Thompson Academy has forfeited its O'ahu Interscholastic Association boys basketball playoff victory over 'Aiea due to an ineligible player, OIA executive secretary Dwight Toyama announced late yesterday afternoon.

Thompson had upset White Conference (Division II) Western Division No. 1 seed 'Aiea, 62-60, in Saturday's first-round playoff game at 'Aiea. But on Monday, Hawai'i High School Athletic Association executive director Keith Amemiya was alerted about the ineligible player, and he relayed the complaint to Toyama.

After an investigation and hearing yesterday afternoon before an OIA rules committee composed of five league principals, it was determined that Thompson's use of the ineligible player in the playoff game must result in a forfeit.

Toyama said the ineligible player transferred to Thompson from Word of Life in January, after the OIA season began. League rules for winter sports require a player to transfer at least 30 days prior to the start of the regular season in order to be eligible.

"The transfer rule is clearly stated (in the OIA handbook)," Toyama said. "For winter and spring sports, you have to be enrolled 30 days prior to the first league contest, and for fall sports, it's 18 days."

Thompson coach Sol Batoon said he repeatedly checked with school administrators after the transfer and was told the player was cleared. He said the school, in just its fourth year as an OIA member, suffers from inexperience.

"Now I feel bad for not following through and making sure (about the eligibility) myself," Batoon said. "I feel bad for the guys, because this took away from all the kids who worked hard at it all season."

'Aiea will play Farrington in today's OIA White semifinals at Kaiser.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.