INSIDE CHSAA/PRIVATE GIRLS HOOPS: Freshman stuck in middle of Naz investigation

Nationally ranked Nazareth is facing an investigation and potentially the forfeit of the rest of its season for playing an ineligible player. And that player, freshman Brittney Jackson, feels caught in the middle of a war between her new school and the rest of the league.

“I’m not really sure why they would do this,” Jackson said Tuesday night after Nazareth’s 80-60 win over Bishop Loughlin.

Jackson said she left Mary Louis the first week of November and enrolled at Nazareth on Nov. 9. She sat out the first semester and began playing two weeks ago, in accordance with Nazareth’s interpretation of the transfer rule for freshmen.

Gabriella Bass

Mary Louis transfer Brittney Jackson (r.) is in the center of CHSAA Brooklyn/Queen's investigation of Nazareth.

However, the league is investigating the situation, sources said, because Nazareth never cleared her transfer through the CHSAA Eligibility and Infractions Committee. Naz co-coach Lauren Best maintains that the league’s constitution and bylaws never mention that as part of the process.

“I don’t think we did anything wrong,” Jackson said.

She played league games against Bishop Ford, Mary Louis and St. Francis Prep in the last two weeks. Jackson started against Mary Louis and scored her only points against St. Francis Prep. She also competed in recent non-league games.

"We said funny stuff to her, but we were just joking," Nazareth sophomore star Bianca Cuevas said. "We would say, 'You got to go, girl. You got to go back to Mary Louis.'"

Jackson’s mother, Rose, called what was happening to her daughter “harassment” from Mary Louis. Joe Lewinger, Mary Louis’ athletic director and coach, denies filing a complaint with the league, however.

Jackson was not in uniform Tuesday for the Loughlin game and she’ll remain on the bench pending the investigation. Her name was erased from the Nazareth scorebook Saturday before a game against Christ the King after the referees had signed it. CK coach Bob Mackey said he will hand that issue over to the league.

“It’s upsetting,” Jackson said. “I had to sit out a whole semester and now I have to sit out again.”

While being stuck in a tug of war not of her own doing.

“We are happy to have Brittany,” Best said. “This is by no means her fault or her family’s fault.”

Dorgler making big impact in little ways for Molloy: Patti Dorgler understands her role and excels in it. The undersized junior has been the Stanners' blue-collar starter all season. She stepped into the first five when Dallas Pralle got hurt in the preseason and hasn’t left since.

“Patti has been the biggest surprise all year,” first-year Molloy coach Scott Lagas said.