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A federal appeals court says a judge should not have dismissed a lawsuit over the scheduling of high school boys and girls basketball games in Indiana.<br />
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The ruling Tuesday by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago means the lawsuit against Franklin County High School and 13 others filed by Amber Parker and Tammy Hurley for their daughters can proceed.<br />
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The lawsuit claims the schedules discriminate against girls because their games are generally scheduled on school nights while most boys games are scheduled on weekends. It says the scheduling violates the federal anti-discrimination law Title IX.<br />
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The court said it believes the appellants presented a genuine question of fact that merits further review. Parker is a former varsity girls’ basketball coach at Franklin County High School. </p>
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During the 2009-2010 season, nearly 95 percent of the Franklin boys’ varsity games were played during “primetime” – nights that do not precede school days, her complaint said. In that same season, only 53 percent of girls’ games occurred during primetime.<br />
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Parker’s complaint stated that because girls’ teams are relegated to weeknight play, the players have trouble keeping up with homework obligations, are less likely to have fan support, and generally feel that their accomplishments are less important than the boys’ teams.
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