Posted on 01/26/2009 12:03:59 PM PST by Colonel Kangaroo
After counting down the seconds until the final buzzer, I lined up my girls to wish the opposing team well, and then headed into the locker room for our post game rituals. After the girls and I said our goodbyes, I headed home to reflect like I always do after every game. But this was no ordinary game. Little did I know that in the next eight days, Barry Horn would write an article for Dallas Morning News about our 100-0 win over Dallas Academy that would start a firestorm of articles, nationally broadcasted news stories, and hateful email about me and the 8 young ladies that make up the Dallas Covenant School girls basketball team. I’ve always taught my girls to value honesty, integrity, compassion for others and to stand up for those values despite the consequences. So it is for Andi, Savannah, Taylor, Lauren, Wren, Marquita, Blair, Tiffany and our assistant coach Kelly that I tell our story.
The Team. We are hardly the “elite basketball powerhouse” that we are described as in the National and local media. Up until 3 years ago, we rarely had a winning season. In fact, during my first year at Covenant four years ago, we experienced one of our worst seasons - a losing record of only 2 wins and 19 losses that sunk to an 82-6 low in a game that forever changed us and how we approached the game of basketball. Two years later we made the first Final Four appearance in the school’s history. Like Dallas Academy, Covenant is a small Christian school, which is why we are in the same district. We don’t have a home gym so we rent out facilities or gym space in the community so we can practice, and then watch game film at the home of one of the players. We’ve never had a full roster. Only about 30 high school girls attend Covenant and only 8 of those girls play basketball. During many of the games this year, we played with 6 girls, and sometimes only 5. When players fouled out, we’ve had to finish the game with 4. But we always finished the game.
The Players. Rarely does a coach find a player who will run the extra laps, do the extra push-ups, or shoot the extra baskets without complaining. I have 8 such players—2 freshmen, a sophomore who is new to the school and team, another sophomore who has been with us for two years, two Juniors who have been with us for 3 years, a Senior who is new to the team and school, and another Junior who is new to basketball and is learning how to play for the first time in her life. My girls believe in each other, motivate each other, and see each other as family. The respect and admiration I have for them and their parents are the main reason why I come back to Covenant each year.
The Game. The game started like any other high school basketball game across the nation. The teams warm-up, coaches talk, the ball is tipped, and then the play begins. We started the game off with a full-court press. After 3 minutes into play, we had already reached a 25-0 lead. Like any rational thinking coach would do, I immediately stopped the full-court press, dropped into a 2-3 zone defense, and started subbing in my 3 bench players. This strategy continued for the rest of the game and allowed the Dallas Academy players to get the ball up the court for a chance to score. The second half started with a score of 59-0. Seeing that we would win by too wide of a margin, running down the clock was the only logical course of action left. Contrary to the articles, there were only a total of four 3-point baskets made; three in the first quarter, and only one in the third quarter. I continued to sub in bench players, play zone defense, and run the clock for the rest of the game. We played fair and honorably within the rules and in the presence of the parents, coaches, and athletic directors for both Covenant School and Dallas Academy.
The Apology. In response to the statement posted on The Covenant School Website, I respectfully disagree with the apology, especially the notion that the Covenant School girls basketball team should feel "embarrassed" or "ashamed". We played the game as it was meant to be played and would not intentionally run up the score on any opponent. Although a wide-margin victory is never evidence of compassion, my girls played with honor and integrity and showed respect to Dallas Academy. We honor God, ourselves, and our families when we step on the court to compete. I do no wish to forfeit the game. What kind of example does it set for our children? Do we really want to punish Covenant School girls? Does forfeiting really help Dallas Academy girls? We experienced a blowout almost 4 years ago and it was painful, but it made us who we are today. I believe in the lessons that sports teach us. Competition builds character, and teaches us to value selflessness, hard work, and perseverance. As a coach, I have instilled in my girls these values. So if I lose my job over these statements, I will walk away with my integrity.
Sincerely, Micah Grimes
Games are meant to be played and won. If you can't compete, get out. If the other team can't score baskets, it's not my problem.
And I severely disagree with "you put in your 5 worst players and leave them there."
Hey, I have an idea! Let's just not keep score! That way, everybody gets to feel all good and wonderful, like nice little comrades should. What do you say? Wouldn't want the little comrades to feel bad about losing, now, would you?
So the media was making something of nothing and got the man fired. What a shock that the liberal media would do that.
Sorry, no excuses, this score was run up because of this guys need to see 3 digits on the scoreboard. He can spin all he wants. You can get through a 1/2 of High School basketball without putting 60 points on a scoreboard, let alone another 40+ on top of it, if you have proven you completely outclass the other team.
This display was shameful. A coach is meant to teach, what lesson did he teach his players or his opponents that night? Not a damn thing.
HS basketball has a 20 minute half, assuming they payed with a 45 second shot clock, and never ever missed a single shot attempt, and that the opponents spent not one second actually handling the ball, the maximum score per half would be 52 points if all 2 point shots were taken, and the 45 seconds was wound down. His second half performance fell 11 points below that... don’t give me you have nothing to be ashamed of.
I however do not just blame this coach, I blame the parents of these kids for not calling him for it during the game, I would pull my kid from a game like this and dress down the coach publicly. There was absolutely no honor in this.
Thats about a basket every 2 minutes. Thats a very very slow game.
Their basketball team was so atrocious, they once lost 65-11. The other team only scored 12 points in the second half, because the coach wasn't an A-hole, like the coach of this womens team.
Sheesh, its unbelievable that people think this is a life lesson for anything except bad sportsmanship.
Sorry bad math, 21 points shy of that maximum, not 11.
However letting it get to 59 to 0 at the half, rediculous.
If they ran up the score, so what?
Not only is it good to know you suck, it’s important to know how much you suck.
Exactly, this coach did little to teach his players a fundamental of Sports.
Grace in winning and losing.
You run up the score 60 to 0 by halftime, you are just an ass, pure and simple.
If he, in fact, changed tactics to benefit the other team and not run up the score, then I commend him.
When I was in high school, our basketball team was in the same league with Morningside. Lisa Leslie was their star player. They routinely routed teams, including ours, and we were a fairly good team. She had a 100 point game against one of the lesser teams one year. It was definitely a case of running up the score and made the local papers, but I don’t think the coach was fired.
Um, are you nuts?
HS basketball has 4 8 minute halves.
That means the second half’s 31 points on top of the first half’s 59 points was a bucket every minute in the second half and 2 buckets per minute in the first.
Not remotely a VERY VERY slow game.
why should they condescend to the other team?? Will that make them feel better??
Not for a girls basketball game.
Um, are you nuts?
HS basketball has 4 8 minute quarters.
That means the second half’s 31 points on top of the first half’s 59 points was a bucket every minute in the second half and 2 buckets per minute in the first.
Not remotely a VERY VERY slow game.
halves should read QUARTERS.
Agreed. The objective is to win, not pile on. In football that will get you a 15 yard penalty for bad sportsmanship.
So, are you saying that there is good in slowing down and letting the other guy catch up?
As mentioned, it’s the 100 and 0 points that bother me. I can almost let the 100 go but no matter how poor the opposing team was, if they let them put up a few shots here and there you’d have to assume a couple would go in, even by chance.
It looks to me like a full on defensive press, blocking shots, total control of the boards, etc. If the coach really asked them to let up some there would be a few points scored.
I just don’t see what the coah OR the players get out of it by humiliating the other team so. This is girls high school basketball, not a war.
4 halves?
We really need to see a video. I think the real story would soon be obvious one way or the other.
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