High School coach fired over lopsided win

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High School coach fired over lopsided win - downie_24 - 01-26-2009

<a class="postlink" href="http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=904726">http://highschool.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=904726</a>

I know many will probably disagree, but I think this firing was not called for. All they were doing was playing the game. If the other team is not competitive enough (they haven't won in 4 years), then maybe they shouldn't be in this league. Sure, maybe the fans shouldn't have been cheering when they were getting close to the 100 mark, but firing the coach....kinda stupid. Any thoughts?

Re: High School coach fired over lopsided win - tth_fan - 01-26-2009

Quote:"It is shameful and an embarrassment that this happened. This clearly does not reflect a Christlike and honorable approach to competition"

Another reason why religion & sports shouldn't mix. This whole story is just ridiculous.

Re: High School coach fired over lopsided win - chris - 01-26-2009

"We played the game as it was meant to be played. My values and my beliefs would not allow me to run up the score on any opponent, and it will not allow me to apologize for a wide-margin victory when my girls played with honor and integrity."

This statement confuses me; his values don't let him run up the score? Is that not exactly what happened?

Re: High School coach fired over lopsided win - mojo_mattv - 01-26-2009

While I don't think a firing was really all that necessary, he probably should have has some sort of reprimand for this score. My old man's been coaching competetive minor hockey for ever now and I know when his team's are playing a game where the score is ridiculously lopsided, he changes the lines and positions around and makes 'rules' such as you can't take a shot until the puck has been passed 5 times or something to that effect.

Re: High School coach fired over lopsided win - robert goulet - 01-26-2009

I think it would have been more embarassing and condescending to the losing team if the winner simply gave up and went in the tank. Basically that sends the message that "you guys suck so bad the we are going to stop playing...here you go...take the ball" Would it have been OK if the final score was 97-0?? I think the issue was that they hit the 100 mark right on the button. If the coach was telling his girls to put on a full court press and chuck up 3's to hit the magical 100 then that is a completely different story. But I don't get the sense that is what took place. Suck it up buttercup...maybe they should think about finding a different league to play in.

Re: High School coach fired over lopsided win - The Horrible Esthete - 01-27-2009

I usally side with the "mean bullies" on issues like this. If you can't handle getting crushed -- however one might define "crushed" -- in a simple basketball game, then competition isn't for you. And it sounds like this team shouldn't exist if they are so dismal that they can't even luck into one shot falling for them. How can you not at least get to the line and make a free throw?

But there is a common-sense code of ethics here that should be employed:

First is "emptying the bench". The score was 59-0 at halftime -- that coach (of the winning team) better damn well have started the 2nd half with NO STARTERS on the floor, and made sure NO STARTER saw playing time in the entire second half (as long as the team had ten players, of course).

Second is the "work on fundamentals" approach with those second and third string players. A blowout is a great opportunity to get your younger, developing bench players some scrimmage time to work on offensive and defensive sets.

Third is the "put on the brakes" method of playing the game, which is every much a part of "the way basketball is meant to be played" as "scoring at will" is. When a lead grows to 30+ points, a viable basketball strategy (completely aside from fact that it is also an 'honorable' strategy) is to spread the floor and pass the ball until the shot clock is under :10, then try to score. Most coaches with a brain and a heart know that avoiding clock stoppages and minimizing opponent possessions is "the way basketball should be played" when you have a commanding lead. Defensively, try playing some different zone looks to get your team some practice in those areas.

If he did empty his bench in the 2nd half, and he did mandate "no shots until the last ten seconds of the shot clock", then I can't see any reason for him to apologize, let alone be fired. Bench players are naturally going to seize the opportunity to get a rare chunk of playing time, and they have the right to show that they can shoot and score too. However, accounts from attendees indicate that his team was jacking up threes in the 4th quarter trying to get to 100.

And that IS shameful.

Re: High School coach fired over lopsided win - Pudge7681 - 01-27-2009

As a coach of varsity athletics I feel somewhat qualified to comment on this thing. I wasn't there so I can't say for sure but I doubt that a shutout in high school basketball occurs if you play your bench as much as you should in a game where you are leading by that margin at the half. That being said...if he did play his second and third string girls and they were the ones knocking down the threes and stopping the opponent defensively then I say there is no fault on the coach's part. I have always said in games that got out of hand that I would not want my starters racking up the points but if a girl who never sees gametime otherwise goes out there and gets hers in an attempt to prove to the coach and her teammates that she is capable of being more than a practice player then I say good for her. Again though...unless this team is comprised of 12 amazing athletes I find it hard to believe that a shutout is possible in a hoops game against any oponent no matter how weak.

Re: High School coach fired over lopsided win - The Horrible Esthete - 01-27-2009

Pudge7681 Wrote:Again though...unless this team is comprised of 12 amazing athletes I find it hard to believe that a shutout is possible in a hoops game against any oponent no matter how weak.

Well, the team that lost purportedly "has eight girls on its varsity team and about 20 girls in its high school. It is winless over the past 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". So maybe they really are comlpletely incompetant as a team.

That said, I personally find it hard to believe that a team of 10-year old paraplegics couldn't score at least one free throw against an able-bodied HS varsity team.

Re: High School coach fired over lopsided win - MountainHip - 01-28-2009

<a class="postlink" href="http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=A5lqwTOhMgE">http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=A5lqwTOhMgE</a>

..............according to this, he went to second string players in the 1st quarter, and there is a box score noting only 12 points in the 4th quarter.