An unfortunate turn for one of the state's boys' basketball programs has led to an opportunity for another.

After Concordia Prep learned it could no longer field a team because of academic eligibility issues, first-year school Legacy Prep will get an opportunity to compete. Although they will not be eligible for the postseason, and its JV squad will take on varsity squads from Region 17, they'll make up for what otherwise would be an unplayed schedule.

The UHSAA Board of Trustees unanimously approved a motion to allow Legacy Prep to play out the Lynx's schedule. If the three remaining players who are academically eligible at Concordia Prep can work out logistics with Legacy Prep, they can also play.

Concordia Prep principal Darren Morrison said it was difficult news for the team when they learned they couldn't play the rest of the year. But fielding athletic teams has been a challenge all year for the 1A school — it also didn't have a baseball team in the fall. The boys' basketball team only had six players to before its academic woes.

"This is new to us this year, because our enrollment is down," Morrison said. "That's why we moved to the new campus, in the hopes we could improve our numbers and not have this problem."

Morrison said he hoped to work with Legacy Prep to create a blend of the two squads, allowing the Lynx's eligible athletes to compete.

"They just want to play basketball," he said. "They'll do whatever it takes."

— Kyle Goon

kgoon@sltrib.com

Twitter: @kylegoon