The first question Dale Norton asked was, "What about Pahrump Valley's girls soccer team?"

The Nye County assistant superintendent of schools, a former coach and who for years has been one of Nevada's better football and basketball officials, asked the question Wednesday night.

He had learned that the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association Board of Control voted in a special session Wednesday to agree to terms of a settlement with the parent of a Green Valley High School student, bringing a momentary end to a Title IX case that began in April.

According to the Web site, nevadapreps.com, the board voted 7-1 in support of the settlement, which ensures the NIAA will recognize Class 4-A girls soccer in Southern Nevada as a winter sport for 2008-09. The lone dissenting vote was cast by Larry Mason.

Pahrump Valley is playing in the Southern Nevada Class 3-A League this fall, while this legal dispute was being resolved. Norton wondered what status the Lady Trojans will have in 2009-2010.

"I will make an inquiry with the NIAA about what will happen to Pahrump Valley in the next school year," said Norton. "If Pahrump Valley plays soccer in the winter (in 2009-2010), our girls' basketball program will be adversely affected."

Most Class 4-A Las Vegas Southwest Division schools each have more than 2,400 students enrolled and could handle two winter sports. However, Pahrump Valley's average daily enrollment is around 1,500. A 900-student difference will definitely give Southwest schools a distinct advantage.

The only exception to those enrollment figures is Bishop Gorman, which has more than 1,100 students drawn from all over the Las Vegas diocese.

According to nevadapreps.com, the situation beyond this school year remains fluid, though, and NIAA executive director Eddie Bonine said it "absolutely" could become a battle again.

Bonine said the settlemen is "gonna burn on me. The bottom line is that until there is a true state champion in soccer, I'm not resting." Northern 4-A girls soccer is played in the fall.

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Go to the Web site, www.nevadapreps.com, for more on this story.