Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said she is seeking answers from the Alabama High School Athletic Association after a high school said it had to forfeit a playoff game because of its religious principles.

Oakwood Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist School, forfeited its game against Faith Christian in the Class 1A Northeast Regional boys semifinal.

Seventh-day Adventist churches observe the Sabbath from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday.

Oakwood Academy was scheduled to play last Saturday at 4:30 p.m. School officials had hoped the AHSAA would flip its game time with the other scheduled semifinal game at 7:30 p.m.— after sun down.

The school was denied its request, which forced it to resign the contest.

The AHSAA repsonded that “all games at each regional site are expected to be played as scheduled.”

In an email to AHSAA executive director Alvin Briggs, Ivey said she was disturbed to hear about the reported treatment of the Oakwood Academy basketball team. Ivey said few things are more important to Alabamians than their faith and proceeded to ask questions about the incident involving the basketball team.
Ivey has invited the Oakwood Academy team to the governor’s mansion.