Curie Loses Playoff Game In Overtime Shocker

Team loses game hours after coach reinstated and eligibility controversy

In the end, the No. 2 ranked team in the nation couldn't make it out of the first round of the state playoffs.

The fight for the Curie Metropolitan High School basketball team to compete in the state playoffs ended on a surprising note Tuesday with the heavily-favored team losing its opening-round game to DuSable High School.

DuSable beat Curie 88-85 in an overtime shocker at King College Prep High School.

The loss comes on the same day Curie coach Mike Oliver was reinstated to the team just hours ahead of the game.

The school's varsity basketball team, which ranks among the best in the nation, was stripped last week of its 24 wins this season and the Chicago high school championship title because of academic ineligibility.

Nine team members were deemed eligible to play following an investigation by Chicago Public Schools officials.

Despite having been ineligible to compete in CPS this season, all members of the Curie boys varsity team were eligible to compete in the IHSA state tournament. To meet eligibility, students had to be passing five courses and achieving a minimum of 2.5 credits at the time of the tournament.

CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett issued a statement Tuesday explaining the decision to reinstate Oliver.

Coach Michael Oliver will coach the Curie High School Boys Varsity Basketball team for the duration of the state tournament, since the team meets the IHSA eligibility requirements and the investigation as to why CPS' student-athlete academic eligibility policy was not followed is still underway. The District supports athletic competition, but our chief priority is on classroom instruction, academic achievement and for our students to build a solid educational foundation that will serve them their entire lives.

Oliver issued a statement thanks Byrd-Bennett for allowing himd to play and the "opportunity to join my players and coaches as we put this chapter behind us and focus on our priorities: school and athletics."

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