A Mt. View player had sought a change because of religious reasons.

AUGUSTA (AP) – A Maine Human Rights Commission investigator has determined that the Maine Principals’ Association discriminated against a high school student when it refused to reschedule basketball games to accommodate his religious beliefs.

Anthony Greenlaw, a senior at Mt. View High School in Thorndike, and his mother asked the MPA last February to reschedule his team’s game in last winter’s tournament so it would not take place on the Sabbath, from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. He is a member of the Church of God Restored, which calls for strict observance of the Sabbath.

The commission will vote on the finding at its Dec. 8 meeting in Augusta. Commission findings are not law, but may become grounds for lawsuits.

Greenlaw’s mother, Lynelle Greenlaw, suggested that Mt. View’s quarterfinal game be played on a Friday afternoon rather than at night, and that the Class B championship game start after sundown on Saturday.

She told the MPA that Deering and Portland high schools last year moved football games to a Thursday night to accommodate students celebrating Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.

Additionally, Penquis and Calais high schools played a girls’ soccer tournament on a Friday rather than Saturday to allow a Calais player to participate in both the tournament and a golf contest.

MPA officials discussed the request and voted to keep the original schedule. Lynelle Greenlaw was notified by e-mail by MPA executive director Dick Durost that “the schedule cannot be juggled to meet the needs of one student.”

Durost last February said the MPA encourages accommodating students’ needs when two schools are involved. However, he said rescheduling the state tournament could affect 48 teams.

Mt. View’s quarterfinal game against Foxcroft Academy began on a Friday at about 4:40 p.m., and Greenlaw could not play after the first quarter. Mt. View lost the game, 70-50.

Paul Pierce, an investigator for the Human Rights Commission, wrote that “the Greenlaws’ request for an easily accomplished accommodation has been ignored.”

Pierce added, “It is unlawful for the MPA, which could have so easily fashioned an accommodation with no opposition, fanfare or unwanted publicity to Mr. Greenlaw and themselves, to choose not to do so.”