In a rare policy reversal, Interscholastic League of Honolulu principals yesterday voted overwhelmingly to allow tiny La Pietra to remain a Division II team in girls basketball.

La Pietra, which has 34 girls in its senior class, was promoted to Division I this summer after the ILH applied its new classification criteria. The move drew concerns from La Pietra parents, who feared the Lady Panthers did not have the depth and personnel to compete on a regular basis against DI teams like perennial powerhouses Punahou, Kamehameha and Iolani.

The parents later met with La Pietra principal Nancy White, who eventually was convinced the school should appeal. A proposal was presented at an ILH principals meeting yesterday, where "at least three-fourths of them" voted to send La Pietra back down to DII, according to La Pietra coach Anthony Czaja.

"The first (Lady Panther) I talked to today had mixed emotions, but when other girls found out, they broke down and had tears of joy," Czaja said. "I would say, overall, it was a big relief."

The Lady Panthers won the ILH Division II championship last season, but their best player transferred to Kalani and the second-best player graduated.

"At first, I couldn't believe they were even considering moving us to Division I, because it's not right for our school," said La Pietra senior Ashanti Shih. "I definitely believe we belong in Division II, because of our enrollment."

Shih said a couple teammates "were bummed" after hearing yesterday's news, "because they had their heart set" on playing in Division I. But she said they were in the minority.

"A lot of us are really happy; I would say the majority are relieved," Shih said. "I'm excited, because now we have more of a chance to win a championship."

ILH girls basketball coordinator Bill Villa said there are no plans to move another team up to Division I. According to the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association's state tournament league representation calculations released on Aug. 24, the ILH should still have two DI berths even with La Pietra moving down to Division II.

The ILH will have five teams (Iolani, Kamehameha, Maryknoll, Mid-Pacific and Punahou) in DI. The league representations for the Division II state tournament also will remain unchanged.

Villa said yesterday's action was considered a "one-time waiver" to the classification criteria, but he added the criteria is up for review soon anyway.

"We're soliciting ideas from within our league on how to adjust (the criteria)," Villa said. "It's a work in progress."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.