Munster’s Zekovic suspended

Updated: November 29, 2011 10:06PM

Munster coach Mike Hackett doesn’t want to overanalyze the decision or complain about the decision or even try to really understand the decision.

He just knows the team has to deal with it.

The decision, rendered by the IHSAA, was to suspend Danilo Zekovic, Munster’s 6-foot-6 move-in from Serbia, for four games because he played on a club team in Serbia. His last game was Dec. 15, 2010. The IHSAA ruled, for reasons that Hackett isn’t sure about, that Zekovic will have to sit out 365 days before he’s eligible to play. That means he can make his debut against Penn on Dec. 17. Until then, Zekovic, who Hackett said will start, has to play on the junior varsity team.

“You never know what to expect when you’re dealing with the IHSAA,” Hackett said.

Here is Zekovic’s deal. He moved to Munster to live with his uncle, who is his legal guardian. The IHSAA asked for a letter that detailed his last game played for his club team. It was sent off to the team and Zekovic lost four games of eligibility.

“We were hoping this wouldn’t happen,” Hackett said.

Hackett’s just glad it’s only four games and he’s glad that Zekovic, who has a legitimate chance to play in college, will get to play.

“These things have a way of working themselves out,” Hackett said.

The big guy is still down: The Mustangs are 1-0 with a victory over Gavit and a game Friday against Hammond.

They’ll likely have to win their next few without Mark Strbjak, a 6-4 post player. Strbjak, who played on the football team, suffered a back injury. Hackett expects him to return but he’s not sure when.

NWI adds two Hall inductees: Two local players — Ron Divjak, a 1960 East Chicago Washington graduate and Mike Broughton, a 1973 Hebron graduate, will be inducted into the Indiana High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

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