The 3A North Regional basketball tournament begins today in the Wildcat Den at Chinle.

The three-day regional tournament continues through Saturday. The girls and boys champion will be crowned on Saturday night.

Six girls and six boys teams are vying for the regional tournament championship. The girls' title will be decided at 5:30 p.m., while the boys' championship is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

This past Wednesday morning, the Arizona Interscholastic Association Executive Board met in a special meeting to discuss the status of Window Rock High School's boys' basketball program.

Window Rock was forced to forfeit regular season games and 3A North Region contests, due to an ineligible player.

AIA spokesman Brian Bolitho said the AIA Executive Board voted to rescind one of the five forfeited games reported by Window Rock.

"As such. they (Window Rock) would remain eligible for the AIA state tournament," Bolitho said. "The win on 1/14/2020,  (January 14, 2020), will be recalculated into the rankings."

Bolitho said it is the 3A North Region decision, not the AIA, to allow Window Rock to participate in the regional tournament, which begins today in Chinle. Bolitho said the region sets its tournament outside of the AIA.

Bolitho said forfeits affect Window Rock's record, and as such, Window Rock dropped to 2-8 in region. Bolitho said the AIA Executive Board voted to rescind one of the forfeits reported that was a win for Window Rock on January 14, 2020 against Ganado.

Bolitho said Window Rock reported its own violation and the AIA Executive Board determines the severity of the violation, which was not addressed at the meeting this past Wednesday morning.

3A NORTH REGIONAL TOURNAMENT

GIRLS

Girls' teams include Page Lady Sand Devils, Ganado Lady Hornets, Tuba City Lady Warriors, Chinle Lady Wildcats, Window Rock Lady Scouts and Kayenta Monument Valley Lady Mustangs.

In girls' action today, Tuba City meets Kayenta Monument Valley at 3 p.m. Chinle faces Window Rock at 6 p.m. The Tuba City/Kayenta Monument Valley winner takes on Ganado at 3 p.m. on Friday. The Chinle/Window Rock survivor plays Page at 6 p.m. on Friday.

Friday's winners move into the regional tournament championship on Saturday. The championship game tips off at 5:30 p.m. A third/fourth place game is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday.

3A NORTH REGIONAL TOURNAMENT

BOYS

Teams competing in th boys' bracket are Page, Chinle, Kayenta Monument Valley, Tuba City, Window Rock and Ganado.

First round boys' regional tournament play today has Kayenta Monument Valley taking on Ganado at 4:30 p.m. Tuba City and Window Rock tangle at 7:30 p.m. The Kayenta Monument Valley/Ganado winner faces Chinle at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The Tuba City/Window Rock survivor plays Page at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

Friday's semifinal game winners meet for the regional tournament championship on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The third/fourth place contest is set for 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.