Local coaches react to controversial basketball game
[gtxvideo vid=”rh6G7Vs9″ playlist=”” pid=”OTSe9U1y” thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/rh6G7Vs9.jpg” vtitle=”District Consolation Reaction”]
JACKSON, Tenn. — A high school basketball game in Rutherford County is getting national attention after the TSSAA removed two high school girls basketball teams from their regional tournaments for intentionally trying to lose a game. Riverdale and Smyrna’s girls basketball teams have been fined and put on probation by the TSSAA. Officials said they were trying to lose to get a more favorable bracket match-up in their regional tournament. Local coaches said the TSSAA removing two Middle Tennessee teams from their regional tournament for what they call “dishonorable conduct” was the right move. “I think they had to send a strong message that if it’s this obvious that both teams are trying to throw the game, we gotta do something to keep our game respectful,” USJ girls head basketball coach Tony Shutes told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News Tuesday. Shutes said when high school sports reaches this point, it is defeating the purpose of the game. “What you are teaching your kids, it’s more than just coaching,” Shutes said. “Just life lessons on how to work through things, so it was really tough just to watch that.” Local officiating directors WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News spoke with Tuesday said all the officials could do was encourage fair play. Other area coaches say they had never asked their players not to give their best. “I will definitely say as a coach, you know, we just try to encourage our kids to go out and play hard every time they step on the floor,” North Side High School girls basketball coach Shemon Reaves said. “I think as a coach, every day you teach not only just basketball,” Shutes said. “Use the game to teach the players life lessons. If you’re not doing that and you’re just teaching Xs and Os, you’re doing your kids a disservice.” The teams these schools were supposed to play in the regional tournament will get by in the first round of the tournament. Both schools involved were fined $1,500 and their girls basketball programs placed on restrictive probation until the end of the next school year.
