VHSL REINSTATES ALTAVISTA'S PANNELL

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 26, 1993                   TAG: 9302260073
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
VHSL REINSTATES ALTAVISTA'S PANNELL
The Virginia High School League appeals committee upheld the Seminole District principals Thursday in their suspension of Altavista's Sherman Pannell for violating the amateur status rule, but reinstated the Colonels' star guard to play in the district tournament.
Pannell, who averages 29.2 points, had been suspended for accepting money for making dunks during games starting on Feb. 2. Altavista was forced to forfeit five victories and the Seminole District championship. That part was upheld by the appeals committee.
However, Pannell was reinstated for the tournament, according to Augusta County School Superintendent Ed Clymore, a member of the appeals committee, because Altavista had not acquainted Pannell with the rules. The VHSL requires schools to inform all athletes of the rules.
According to Clymore, Pannell was paid from $5 to $10 a dunk by family members. However, confusion arose because one night a family member had to report to work before the end of a game and left the money with a non-family member to give to Pannell.
In all, Pannell was given from $100 to $180 over a period of a few weeks for making dunks during games. For this reason, he was found to be in violation of the amateur rule.
The Seminole District tournament was scheduled to start Thursday night. Like most other action in Timesland, it was postponed because of inclement weather until this evening when it will be played at Brookville and Rustburg with doubleheaders at each location. The tournament tentatively is scheduled to move to the Vines Center at Liberty University for the semifinals on Saturday and championship game on Monday.
The Roanoke Valley District girls' tournament was pushed back to Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader at William Fleming. The final will be played Monday.
The Piedmont District called off the Laurel Park-Tunstall game Thursday night and moved it to this evening as part of a doubleheader starting at 6. The other semifinal matches Martinsville against Magna Vista.
The New River District was postponed until this evening and will hold the championship game on Saturday. The Hogoheegee District also pushed its schedule back a day and will finish on Saturday at Emory & Henry.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB