EIGHT WEST DESERT PLAYERS SUSPENDED FOR DRUG USE

West Desert in western Juab County is Utah's tiniest and most remote high
school, with just 27 students in grades 9-12. Teams traveling to play the
Hawks in basketball must take a bumpy dirt road much of the way.

Coach Ryan Harris says Trout Creek, near the Utah-Nevada border, and
surrounding communities are a haven for people seeking to practice their
religious beliefs.

But the community was rocked this week when Harris suspended eight of his
players for smoking marijuana. The coach said the players admitted to the
off-campus violation. No arrests were made and no charges have been filed.

"It has caused the whole place to do some self-examination," said Harris, a
Cedar City native. "People are rocked by it. It is a very religious
community, obviously, and it has been difficult. No one is sure what the
source [of the marijuana] is."

Thursday, Region 18's athletic directors voted to uphold Harris' ruling
that the players would have to miss two games, although one pushed to have
the Hawks' season ended.

Utah High School Activities Association rules stipulate that student-
athletes caught abusing alcohol, tobacco products and other drugs during a
sports season must sit out two consecutive games. West Desert will be
allowed to enter next week's 1-A state tournament as the region's No. 2 seed.

The Hawks entered the week tied for first at 9-1 with Meridian. Meridian
will enter the state tourney as the first seed, Dugway third and Wasatch
Academy fourth.

Because the school has only 12 boys, and all 12 are on the team, West
Desert had to forfeit Wednesday's scheduled game against Provo's Meridian
and Friday's game at Dugway.