Thursday, January 22, 2009

Triple-digit blowout

One of my favorite things to say in the office before covering an expected blowout is that the final score will be 98-3. It mostly applies to football and basketball.

One day, I hope to here of a 98-3 score involving local teams. For now, I must settle for an Associated Press story from Texas.

DALLAS (AP) — A high school girls basketball team that beat an opponent 100-0 has a case of blowout remorse.
The winning school now says it wants 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,” the head of the school said Thursday on The Covenant School’s Web site. He added that Covenant has made “a formal request to forfeit the game recognizing that a victory without honor is a great loss.”
Covenant, a private Christian school in Dallas, defeated Dallas Academy 100-0 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 sports 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.”

75 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is pathetic. The team that scored 100 points I hope someone blows them out. Their coach must be a real A-Hole.

Anonymous said...

How about when Rick Bell was with Peters Township and he blew Ringgold out 127-29. I dont remember the exact score but I know they lost close 100 points.

It happened during the 2000 season. Kovak you have any way to look up the score of that game.

Anonymous said...

I think Pete Logan should be recoginzed as coach of the year. He is averaging 5.5 wins a season for Ringgold (11-31) in 2 years. I dont think anyone expected the Rams to more than 5 games the last 2 years.

Great job Pete you must have a good heart to leave a winning progam like Clairton to take a job at Ringgold.

I still dont know how can stand coaching there losing by 30-40 points every night.

mike_kovak said...

Jan. 4, 2000

Peters Township 107,
Ringgold 29

Judging from what I just read about the game, the Peters Township starters didn't play too much and I've never considered Coach Bell to be the type to run up a score. He's one of the best guys I've come across in this business.

Rod Taylor said...

I read this article on yahoo a few days ago and sent it to the parents on my team. That is completely uncalled for. The coach knew he was going to win that ball game. He should have started his bench or got some kids in the stands or something.

Anonymous said...

Kovak,

Judging from the fact you were not at the game and I was. YOu have no clue what happened Bell pressed the whole entire game. He also left his starters deep into the 4th quarter.

Then when Ringgold went to play Peters Township at their place. During the whole warm up time they had the score from the previous game on the scoreboard.

I dont know Rick Bell personally but after seeing that game. He getrs no respect from me. All I hear about how great of a coach he is but he still hasnt done much to prove anything. He gets more credit than Joe Salvino, McConnell, Phil Pergola, etc..

But lets just keep defeding Bell and saying how great he is. Its guys like Mike Kovak who werent even at the game who make people think Rick Bell is the second coming of Phil Jackson.

I am sure Kovak will not write back to this post because he will have nothing to say differently.

Lastly, Rick Bell sure screwed your team up this year Cannon Mac. I have see you guys play 4 times this year and I still can not figure out why you guys play a zone and how he manages to lose with the talent your team has.

Anonymous said...

Kovak,

What article were you reading that said the starters didnt play too much??? Please post the link. Because i think you are just blowing smoke.

Anonymous said...

It is not coach bell what so ever. If you really watch the game then you would know why. All these players do is wine and groan at each other. Please watch the game instead of the outcomes. These players this year dont play for one another like last years team. It is pathetic how selfish they are.

Anonymous said...

Isnt the coach responsible for how the kids play??? I mean that is why you call them a COACH. If he cant control the kids then he isnt coaching them.

That statement made no sense.

Anonymous said...

His job is to coach them not have to deal with their stupid childish attitudes. He has to worry about his players feeling instead of thinking about how to coach the next game

Anonymous said...

No as a coach you have to deal with their attitudes as well. Thats why its not easy being a coach. You should try coaching sometime it involves alot more than X's and O's.

That is why Phil Jackson was such a great coach he had to deal with Dennis Rodman.

I am sure you are going to tell me next though dealing with Dennis Rodman was easier than the CM basketball team.

mike_kovak said...

The Internet didn't do much for my searching. I had to go back to game-by-game records for each team from the 1999-2000 season.

A total of 12 Peters Township players scored in the game and only one starter – Eric Lang – had more than 12.

That led me to believe that maybe PT played its backups. I was not in attendance.

VCTMbrian said...

Fired.

VCTMbrian said...

The 100pt coach, not coach Bell.

Anonymous said...

Fact is Bell has been at CM for 8 years and only one play off team.
We are on our way to our 2nd straight play-off this year. Good Luck CM...you will need it!!!

Anonymous said...

Fact is you will not make the playoffs. Bell is over rated he makes the playoffs 1 time in 8 years and Kovak thinks he is the next John Wooden.

Anonymous said...

Brian try speaking in full sentences. I know its hard for you but no one has a clue what your talking about.

Anonymous said...

Im going to play devils advocate. I read today that the 100 pt. victory coach was fired because he wrote a letter to the newspaper not apologizing for that game. In the same article, i read that the team that lost that game only has 20 girls in the entire school and has not won a game in over 4 years. If you are unable to compete to that extent should you really have a team sanctioned to play? You have teams that train all season to play at a high level and then you have teams like this that take the court and expect everyone to have mercy on them. its not like they were having a down year or had injuries or anything like that, they physically cannot perform up to standards. Why is that any other teams fault and/or problem?

That said, i dont agree with the winning team shooting 3 pointers in the 4th while up by 80 or 90.

Anonymous said...

http://sports.espn.go.com/highschool/rise/basketball/girls/news/story?id=3859935

Fortunatley there are some administrators in the school that understand that there is no reason for an employee of a Christian School to allow the beating that he did.

There is never a reason to beat such a helpless/hapless team in such a manner. Glad to see that he has been sent packing.

VCTMbrian said...

Anon,
Okay. I'll try. However, your grammar was pretty poor for someone who is being critical. (Mine is lousy too)
I think people understood what i was attempting to say... The coach who the original post was about was fired.

mike_kovak said...

So I think Rick Bell is the next 100-year old man sitting behind Ben Howland at UCLA home games?

Do I think Rick Bell is a good coach? Absolutely.

I think there are a lot of excellent coaches in the area.

Anonymous said...

Good coaches now only make the playoffs 1 in every 8 years. That must mean about 80% of the WPIAL has a good coach.

Thats good to hear that we have good coaches everywhere.

Anonymous said...

What was wrong with my grammar? I guess I forgot a comma.

Kovak just because Rick Bell might talk to you after games and is nice does not make him a good coach.

I would be really curious to know his overall record. It has to be close to .500

mike_kovak said...

There's much more to coaching than winning at the high school level and lower.

But winning obviously helps.

You're also ignoring all the times Bell made the playoffs at PT. Until this year, the Indians had not come close to achieving the success they had when Bell coached there.

mike_kovak said...

"Kovak just because Rick Bell might talk to you after games and is nice does not make him a good coach."

I've talked to a lot of bad coaches too.

Anonymous said...

Winning is the only thing that matters. No one remembers when you lose. As a high school athlete you have 4 years to win. There is no time for anything else.

I beginning to think the only way Bell wins is if he has a lot of talent on his team. If it wasnt for Eric Lang he wouldnt have had many of those wins at Peters Township.

I have seen the talent he has this year. He is the only one to blame for a disappointing season. Athletically CM has the most athletes out of any team in their section. Their basketball talent isnt all that bad either. At mid season they had 3 starters averaging double figures.

VCTMbrian said...

What does 3 guys scoring in double figures have to do with anything? There is more to basketball than the ability to score...
CM's defense, passing, and court awareness need improvements, but let's not forget that this is a very young squad.


Count the number of assists CM has in any of their games. If you have to use your toes i'll be shocked.

Anonymous said...

I think Rick Bell was winning a lot of games at PT long before Eric Lang showed up.

Anonymous said...

Brian,

You are so annoying. I was making a point the guy has one playoff appearance in 8 years.

He has 3 kids who can score on his team. He has atheltic kids. He should be able to win with. There arent many teams who have 3 kids averaging double figures.

That gives him 3 players every game to go to that can score.

Brian I have went to every game this year. So please dont tell me what you think. This team can win now. If he is a great coach they win this year.

I love how for some amazing act of god that everyone thinks Rick Bell is such a great coach because he had a few good years at Peters Township.

Great job Coach Bell you had a few good years at Peters TOwnship. That gives you a pass to screw the kids over for the next 10 years by losing with talent.

I just cant figure out such an athletic team play so much zone. WHy not full court press?? Go man to man. Use your athletes.


And to the guy who states Rick Bell won many games before Eric Lang. He won about 60 with Eric Lang. HE has only won 300 and he probably has 100 wins in the last 8 years. He couldnt have won that much genius.

Brian has probably went to 3 games and now he thinks he has all the issues and problems figured out.

Kovak he just hasnt got a clue in general. He just hears everyone else saying Bell is a good coach so he just agrees.


I hate the statement about teams being young. Thats just an excuse. Win now no excuses. CM's section really isnt all that tough. They could win way more than they are now.

Its not like they are playing in a section loaded with athletes. For the most part its a bunch of average athletes who can shoot slightly above average.


So go ahead Brian pick out one thing I said and tell me I am wrong because you kno what your talking about.

Kovak will just say he disagrees and he will not have one legitimate reason. The numbers dont lie 1 playoff appearance in 8 years.

Great job Rick in another 8 years maybe we can make it again!!!

Anonymous said...

Rodney Taylor where are you? I know you have scouted CM. Dont be stupid and agree with these bone heads beause you have ur little picture up there too.

Does CM have a team that should be in the playoffs in the section??

Yes or No... and if you are going to say no please dont just say they are terrible because that means you are acting like Kovak Jr.

Rod Taylor said...

I will say this. Canon Mac has talent. But they struggle with sharing the ball. They settle for forced jumpshots when other options are availible. They have big kid who can has soft hands and can finish in the paint. They need to run the offense through to get people like Hagan easier buckets.

Rod Taylor said...

Sorry what I mean to say in the last sentence was: They need to run the offense through the big boy to get easier shots for Hagan and #21.

VCTMbrian said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
VCTMbrian said...

Anon,
I love that i make one minor comment and you dedicate probably a half hour of your life trying to trash me. I am laughing at you. You are a joke. Sorry.
Now, anon, you called me out for picking out one point from your post, but didnt you do the same to mine?

Honestly, where do you get any ground at all to dedicate that post to me? All i said was that 3 guys scoring double digits is a pretty weak argument...
Outside of that, I was being CRITICAL of CM. I was not calling Coach Bell the God of Basketball. Like, i can't even imagine what is going on in your brain. Did you read my post?
Seriously, i don't know what else to say but you're pretty much a joke. You're bashing a coach, a sportswriter, and me with an anonymous identity on the sportswriter's blog with a crap argument.Ha.


"That gives you a pass to screw the kids over for the next 10 years by losing with talent."

That's a bold statement. Pretty outrageous.
Get a clue. Nah, scrap that. Get some guts first.


I like the "we" at the end of your post... Are you a disgruntled parent?

VCTMbrian said...

"Brian I have went to every game this year. So please dont tell me what you think."


Priceless.


Anon,
After reading Plato for about an hour and a half tonight and then listening to a half hour podcast about why diplomacy with Iran is a bad idea, your post was needed. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Brian you probably dont have an athletic bone in your body. From the sounds of what you reading your probably dork.

So the joke has been on you your whole life. Now I am the one laughing.

Your agruments were so great by the way.
All you said was "CM's defense, passing, and court awareness need improvements."

The defense the coach should be able to fix by working with them in practice. As far court vision CMs point guard does a great job passing and seeing the floor.

Brian just stick to your Plato thats what dorks like you do best. They dont analyze sports very well. Stick to the only thing your good at besides looking like a loser in your picture

Anonymous said...

Kionte Davis is a very talented point guard for CM 15 ppg.

Anonymous said...

Plato,

Look at what you said:

I've only been able to catch a few high school games this season, but getting to see PT play was a treat. It was team basketball at its finest. The passing, awareness, and unselfishness was impressive. They put on a clinic against an athletic CM team.

So you have only been to a few games but yet you made your opinion on CM based on them playing the number one team. That is why your posts mean nothing and you are a joke.

Maybe you should watch a few more games instead of hanging out at the local library reading PLATO with all your weirdo imaginary friends.

Anonymous said...

I love you Brian...strictly in a platonic way of course...

mike_kovak said...

I'd add something but anon proved I know nothing.

Someday, I hope to be a disgruntled parent.

Maybe then I can anonymously go on blogs and rip high school kids, some of whom are 14-15, and coaches who make an additional 3,000 to whatever small sum for donating countless hours just so they can deal with unappreciative adults.

That's fine if there is a vocal portion of this board who think I am a Rick Bell backer. Maybe I'm a backer of everyone because I do not see the point of tearing into high school athletes and high school coaches.

I will maintain my positive outlook and let the negativity to the anonymous.

VCTMbrian said...

Anon,

What does my bone structure have to do with anything? You are an ignorant fool. God help your kids. BTW, The reading was for a class, since you failed to comprehend the fact that i didn't enjoy reading it. Hey, how about you make an account with you name and add a photo of yourself and then see how courageous you are to bash a coach?


The dork calling as pretty good though. You're still a joke.


Other Plato anon(probably the same),

Your post made no sense. I mentioned one of the games i saw and complemented PT?


Clairton Alum,

Anonymous said...

Dork,

You admitted you only saw a few games this year, so I would believe that would make your assessments off. There is no need to have a log on name with a picture like you Brian. You look stupid your the only with Mr. Taylor who does it. So the joke is on you for being one of the few idiots actually dumb enough to post a picture.

Rod Taylor said...

If you post anonymous your argument carries no weight. People who post anonymous are a bit scared. Keep on keeping on Brian!!!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for proving my point Rodney. The village idiot everyone Rodney Taylor speaks.

He is a perfect example of someone who puts their picture up who shouldn't.

Did you and Brian ride a bus together to school? Did you happen to notice your bus shorter than the other students?

Anonymous said...

Rodney and Brian,

Did you ever realize that no one else has a picture up with their name??? It would be like going to the Prom (which maybe neither of you had the chance to go to) in jeans in a t-shirt. You would look around after a while and realize you dont fit in. That is what you should do here. Look at all the blogs. You are the only two who post like that. Its one thing to be different, but another to just be plain stupid.


Rev Run

Anonymous said...

Mike,

When you type up these blogs do you ever wonder if the message board will relate to your blog? Because it seems to me that you could write about us landing on the moon and the board would be about a local coach or some other issue.

VCTMbrian said...

I'm glad that you respond by trying to make fun of me having a picture.


Nevertheless,
I will take my dorkiness. At least i have the marbles to not hide my identity. The majority know who i am, and i am fine with that. I speak my mind and whoever reads it, reads it. Sure i cross a line or two at times and ramble often, but i'm not afraid to put my face or name next to my thoughts. You however are a spineless (thank you timmy mills) critic who will attempt to belittle someone via the internet while staying anonymous. Proud you must be. Proud your friends and family would be if they knew it was you. You are one courageous guy. Seriously, if you are above the age of 15, i am embarrassed to say i support the same school as you. Maybe the joke is on me for not being a coward, but you still are a joke.


You are correct that i stated i have only seen a few games. So? Where in any of my assessments have i been inaccurate?

mike_kovak said...

The Real,

Yes.

VCTMbrian said...

Clairton Alum,

I see i erased a line from one of my previous posts.

It was supposed to read that i love you too.

Anonymous said...

Brian,

Can we keep the gay comments off this blog please?

Thats not asking for too much.

Anonymous said...

I've been out of the VL loop for a while now, but now I remember why i read it LOL.. The best thing about this whole argument is that the Frank the Tanks talking trash on Rick Bell in the real world (not the internet) will never open their mouths. They just will sit in the stands and mouth off, and if Coach Bell happens to look over, they will just duck behind the nearest fan. (Then they drive home and type away) AND THEN after reading Brian's post they secretly run to the library and find a copy of Plato and fall in love with it :P

Anonymous said...

Y would anyone be scared to tell Rick Bell he sucks to his face. I am sure he knows he sucks. He has only made the playoffs once in 8 years. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to figure he hasnt been doing well there.

I am just soo sick of all the accolades people throw at Rick Bell for doing nothing.

Anonymous said...

I just love how Rodney Taylor who watched CM probably 2 time is saying what Rick Bell should do to improve his teams chances of winning. Yet Rodney states he hopes he can be half the coach of Bell.

Anonymous said...

More to coaching than winning. Especially with our youths.

Anonymous said...

Wow,
Apparently the disgruntled anon knows all about CM Hoops and their section as well as AAAA basketball.
Making the playoffs once in 8 years may sound bad but I challenge anyone to do better with the players CM has had, in the section CM is in, against the teamwork, size and depth of AAAA basketball. This years team has individuals who can run and jump and like to chuck 3's. In the "weak section" that has sent a team to the finals year after year, rebounding, team defense, and ball control consistently wins over individual talent.
Perhaps playing zone is a way to protect a foul prone player or two, to keep them on the floor due to a lack of depth, or to try to grab more defensive rebounds?
Before coach Bell came to Canon-Mac I watched a player block a shot into the stands, dunk at the end of a fast break, and then proceed to let the man he was supposed to be covering post him up on the block and score 3 straight baskets. When the coach (before Bell) pulled the player out to remind him of his defensive sins the fans couldn't believe that coach was taking out "the talent."
Perhaps anon was there leading the boos.
This year's CM team is a good group of kids who are losing to some solid teams. If defense and rebounding are keys to winning basketball the teams on the top of the section know how to win.

Anonymous said...

CM section is just avg at best. I have seen every team in that section play. The only team who is alot better than everyone else is Peters. Every other team is beatable on any given night.

Protecting players by playing zone is a poor decision when your not winning. You have to be aggressive and take chances.

I can see going to a zone once in a while but not all game.

Anonymous said...

CM Fan, I think you are missing the point. This section sends 4 out of 7 teams to the playoffs every year. And given the fact that Baldwin is always terrible, by default, you really have 6 teams battling for 4 playoff positions and CM has only been to the play-offs once?
And the talent during level during that stretch has been more than adequate to finish at least 4th a few times.

Anonymous said...

great point there. Plus you also have Ringgold in your section now. So this year you only really had to beat out 1 other team to make the playoffs.

Whats your excuse now CM FAN?????

Anonymous said...

No excuses. Just making a point that you don't run through AAAA basketball with one-on-one style offensive talent. Rebounding and defense are key and those who say this year's CM team is underacheiving need to take those two factors into consideration.

As far as defending coach Bell or Mike Kovak,or CM, you bloggers are right:
Everyone stinks and anyone who thinks otherwise is a moron. Also winning is the only reason high school sports exist and since only one team wins it all each year, everyone else was a loser. The journey means nothing! Intelligent debate means nothing either. The way to make your point is to insult somebody. I think I'm about to be insulted....formerly CM fan
now Vtech Brian fan!

Anonymous said...

Congrats Plato Brian you have a new fan to your book club.

Winning makes sports fun. Ask any athlete if they have more fun when they win or when they lose? They will tell you winning of course.

If CM is playing to much one on one then Rick Bell needs to step in and control that.

Bottome line is CM has a talented enough team to beat anyone else in the section aside from Peters Township.

7 teams and 4 make the playoffs. Plus you have Ringgold and Baldwin in there. So basically all they needed to do is be better than one team this year. Thats not asking a whole lot.

Also your mixing my words. I said winning and making the playoffs are what its about. Anyone can be upset in the playoffs.

The whole debate was started over CM having enough talent over the past 8 years to make more than one playoff appearance.

Anonymous said...

I've never seen so many people get so upset about highschool basketball...

VCTMbrian said...

I believe you said...

"Winning is the only thing that matters."

Whatever.

I want you to think about something...
Perhaps there may be an issue at the lower levels of CM basketball, not the varsity level.
Kids who win when they are younger are more likely to win when they are older. ie- last year's senior class. There are several reasons to why this is true.
1. They are used to winning, will accept nothing less and know what it takes to win.(Preparation and work ethic)
2. They were coached well when younger and understand the fundamentals of the game before reaching the highschool level. Just like with anything else, it is easiest to learn at a younger age. So if an athlete does not understand defense, team play, or how to manage a situation by the highschool level, odds are they arent going to learn it at all.
3. Chemistry. Kids who play well and properly together when they are younger are going to have good chemistry when they are older and likely have a better grasp of the game.

Over the past few years...In my opinion, understanding the game and what to do in situations is one of CM's biggest setbacks. Time after time they make crucial mistakes at important points in the game. I am certain that Coach Bell tells his players what to do in these situations but because this is probably their first time hearing it, it doesn't really register and it doesnt happen instinctively like it needs to.

I'm not saying these are valid for anything, i'm just throwing it all out there to consider. Do i think CM should have a slightly better record than it does right now? Sure. But i don't fault Coach Bell entirely for that.
One of the hardest things to do is to take kids who are used to losing, or used to not playing as a team, and turning them into winners on the court.
I know for a fact that the graduating classes of 06 and 07 won a whole heck of a lot more and were a whole heck of a lot more competitive at the varsity level than they ever were at the middle school and rec levels. But Anon, you don't recognize those improvements. You don't give coach Bell any credit for that.

Anonymous said...

So now you think CM should have a better record?? haha

I dont really agree about your whole idea about winning when kids are younger. Kids change alot from the time they are young. The best players when you are in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade arent always the best in high school.

I remember the teams I played on were always winning until we got to high school. The reason being is that our best players stopped growing and developing their skills after 9th grade.

I highly doubt a kid enters a game thinking about their wins and losses when they were younger.

I just dont think that reasoning carries any weight.

Either way its the coachs job to build the youth progam.

Anonymous said...

GO PETERS!!!

Anonymous said...

Brian,

What book are you reading now in your Philosphy class?

Rod Taylor said...

I will agree with Brian. I have never seen a building constructed from the top down. Solid basketball, soccer, swimming, football, etc. programs are built from the bottom up. A coach can be the greatest coach in the world, but if he does not get solid players it will not make a difference of how good a coach he is. It is up to youth coaches to instill the knowledge and skills imperative to building a winning program.

Anonymous said...

Well thats because you and Brian are socialists. You also probably believe charging corporations higher tax rates.

Rod Taylor said...

Ok. You tell me a better way to build an athletic program.

Anonymous said...

The best way to build a program is getting the best athletes in your school to play. The next step is to teach those kids how to play and work them hard. If you win at the upper levels it will spark interest at the lower levels.

VCTMbrian said...

Did you just watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button or something?

Anonymous said...

No Brian I am not a dork like you who reads Plato.

Brian you dont look like much of an athlete.

Rod Taylor said...

So in other words what I just said.

VCTMbrian said...

Cool. That was really insightful.

I never claimed to be or look like an athlete. But in fairness, you never claimed to be or look intelligent.

Anonymous said...

Brian are you dating Rodney???

Rod Taylor said...

No. I have never met Brian, but we just happen to be two of a handful of rational thinkers on this site.