Posted on 01/25/2009 5:05:25 PM PST by Between the Lines
DALLAS – A Texas high school girls basketball team on the winning end of a 100-0 game has a case of blowout remorse. Now officials from The Covenant School say they are trying to do the right thing by seeking a forfeit and apologizing for the margin of victory.
"It is shameful and an embarrassment that this happened," Kyle Queal, the head of the school, said in a statement, adding the forfeit was requested because "a victory without honor is a great loss."
The private Christian school defeated Dallas Academy last week. Covenant was up 59-0 at halftime.
A parent who attended the game told The Associated Press that Covenant continued to make 3-pointers — even in the fourth quarter. She praised the Covenant players but said spectators and an assistant coach were cheering wildly as their team edged closer to 100 points.
"I think the bad judgment was in the full-court press and the 3-point shots," said Renee Peloza, whose daughter plays for Dallas Academy. "At some point, they should have backed off."
Dallas Academy coach Jeremy Civello told The Dallas Morning News that the game turned into a "layup drill," with the opposing team's guards waiting to steal the ball and drive to the basket. Covenant scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and "finally eased up when they got to 100 with about four minutes left," he said.
Dallas Academy has eight girls on its varsity team and about 20 girls in its high school. It is winless over the last four seasons. The academy boasts of its small class sizes and specializes in teaching students struggling with "learning differences," such as short attention spans or dyslexia.
There is no mercy rule in girls basketball that shortens the game or permits the clock to continue running when scores become lopsided. There is, however, "a golden rule" that should have applied in this contest, said Edd Burleson, the director of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools. Both schools are members of this association, which oversees private school athletics in Texas.
"On a personal note, I told the coach of the losing team how much I admire their girls for continuing to compete against all odds," Burleson said. "They showed much more character than the coach that allowed that score to get out of hand. It's up to the coach to control the outcome."
In the statement on the Covenant Web site, Queal said the game "does not reflect a Christ-like and honorable approach to competition. We humbly apologize for our actions and seek the forgiveness of Dallas Academy, TAPPS and our community."
Covenant coach Micah Grimes did not immediately respond to a message left by The Associated Press on Thursday.
Queal said school officials met with Dallas Academy officials to apologize and praised "each member of the Dallas Academy Varsity Girls Basketball team for their strength, composure and fortitude in a game in which they clearly emerged the winner."
Civello said he appreciated the gesture and has accepted the apology "with no ill feelings."
At a shootaround Thursday, several Dallas Academy players said they were frustrated during the game but felt it was a learning opportunity. They also said they are excited about some of the attention they are receiving from the loss, including an invitation from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to see an NBA game from his suite.
"Even if you are losing, you might as well keep playing," said Shelby Hyatt, a freshman on the team. "Keep trying, and it's going to be OK."
Peloza said the coach and other parents praised the Dallas Academy girls afterward for limiting Covenant to 12 points in the fourth quarter. She added that neither her daughter nor her teammates seemed to dwell on the loss.
"Somewhere during that game they got caught up in the moment," Peloza said of the Covenant players, fans and coaches. "Our girls just moved on. That's the happy part of the story."
How come I have never seen anything wrong with running up the score?
It’s not the other team will suck any less.
Oh you didn’t get the memo? Winning is not the fair thing to do.
Humiliation must be your game.
I have, and it ain't pretty.
Huh...I thought this was elections results. Whew...I could see the spineless Repubs losing 100-0 as well.
Typical socialist thinking. Let’s punish success.
I saw a football game where a team was punting on first down to keep the score from getting to far over, back in highschool.
Tell me what “winning” coach you admire would run the score 100-0?
Winning is success. Humiliating the other side is poor sportsmanship.
My uncle at least had the good grace to look sheepish afterward.
I’d say the other side humiliated themselves.
Most coaches start substituting their 2nd or 3rd stringers in, try experimental plays and basically turn it into a scrimmage once the game is well in hand.
I am always disappointed when a coach takes the foot off the accelerator, but I mean there should be more you can do with a 59-0 lead than just keep it going.
If nothing else, let Rudy play.
This is a situation we all will face in one way or another. What am I supposed to do? Shield my child(ren) from the realities of competition?
Personally, I see nothing wrong with being a sore winner provided that one played the game fairly and followed the rules. As for being a loser, yes, it stinks, but it is part of life and people need to learn how to accept losing as a part of life.
Hoo-boy..., that is embarrassing to both sides...
This was a small, special-needs school.
Sheesh. Even tee ball has a 10 run rule.
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