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Illini Central High School (Mason City, Illinois- about 40 miles south of Peoria) beat a good Madison team to win the Class A title today-
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IHSA issued this official statement regarding the poor sportsmanship by the teams & fans - seen in the Class 2A game between Seton & Harrisburg
"The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is disappointed with and
embarrassed by the actions of both Harrisburg High School and South
Holland (Seton Academy) during Saturday’s IHSA Class 2A Boys
Basketball State Championship game.
While passion and intensity are an integral part of athletic competition,
especially at the highest levels, the behaviors of both teams crossed the
lines of acceptable sportsmanship.
The IHSA is in the process of reviewing the events associated with
tonight’s contest. Both schools will be contacted Monday.
“I am embarrassed by what took place here tonight,” said IHSA Executive
Director Marty Hickman. “Interscholastic athletics are designed to teach
young people important lessons about life. The lessons on display tonight
were that respect and sportsmanship are not important, and that is simply
not unacceptable.”
The IHSA staff will be reaching out to the schools participating in next
week’s Class 3A and Class 4A Super-Sectionals and State Finals
tournament to reinforce the expectations of sportsmanship and appropriate
behavior in interscholastic contests."
There was just a few comments in the local news describe the officiating as worse than bad - it was UGLY -
making it all sound like it was mostly the Seton people who were unruly but it was both sides...
However - in reality - IHSA bears some responsibility...
They chose THREE officials who were all from well south of Springfield
I have no idea if those three guys are biased but let's put it this way - the Seton folks sure thought so and IHSA should have made some efforts to avoid the appearance of having three hometown guys doing the game for Harrisburg...surely there are some guys from the northern half of the state just to give an air of fairness. -
It is one thing for a few fans to get a bit unruly. It is quite another for the coach of one of the teams to act in an unsportsmanlike way, and collude with his players and administration to make a farce of the IHSA tournament-
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but the foul differential and FT differential are hugely tipped in favor of Harrisburg - and I felt they got a raw deal on a whole lot of calls...
not to say if Seton had made their shots or FT's that still had a chance...but at least I can understand the sentiment that caused the Seton coach to feel the way he did...
I doubt he felt any different than the USA team did in Munich when they got jobbedComment
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What was up with the replays of EVERY play and foul ? They don't show plays like that during MVC games or any Bradley game and I heard they don't allow it during the football championships
I think this contributed to the unrestComment
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As most everyone on here knows ,I usually stick up for the officiating as much as possible. In last nights game,I couldn't bring myself to do so. I watched the game on TV as I was out of town and had a hard time believing what I was seeing. My disagreement with you T is minimal to say the least. I don't think it was one sided . I think it was BAD on both sides. Don't know the three so I can't comment as to whether they were over their heads or not but they had a very hard time handling a game of this magnitude.Originally posted by tornado View Post
Officials only get to work the Tourney 3 times and it will be interesting to see if we see them again. You are NOT guarenteed 3 times ,it has to be earned. As bad as it was, it doesn't compare to the sportsmenship both teams exhibited and if Seaton doesn't fire their head Coach,SHAME ON THEM. NEVER saw anything like his display in 50 years of working and watching HS basketball. I hope Marty Hickman holds true to his word and they Never receive the 2nd place trophy.Comment
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The column on the IHSA mess in the 2A title game in the Peoria paper was by Nick Vlahos, deep in the Sports Section, on page 7 below the fold and left out a lot of details..
BUT -- the Springfield paper - had a story by Josh Wessler that was a bit more harsh towards Seton - wonder why this column - also in this morning's paper was only in their Springfield version - and Vlahos' was not - where it might be less likely to get read by anyone up by Chicago?
Anyway - now another PJS writer - Adam Duvall chimes in
Remember - IHSA's official statement said it was equally disappointed in Harrisburg's actions as they were with Seton'sComment
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I was right behind the Seton bench and frankly the in-game antics of Thomas weren't much worse than many other coaches in the tournament. The ejection of Weems was warranted and the Seton coached squawked and pouted the rest of the game, but lots of coaches do that. Let's be real, Seton bitched and moaned, but Harrisburg was a dirty team, particularly in the semis.Originally posted by tornado View PostThe column on the IHSA mess in the 2A title game in the Peoria paper was by Nick Vlahos, deep in the Sports Section, on page 7 below the fold and left out a lot of details..
BUT -- the Springfield paper - had a story by Josh Wessler that was a bit more harsh towards Seton - wonder why this column - also in this morning's paper was only in their Springfield version - and Vlahos' was not - where it might be less likely to get read by anyone up by Chicago?
Anyway - now another PJS writer - Adam Duvall chimes in
Remember - IHSA's official statement said it was equally disappointed in Harrisburg's actions as they were with Seton's
The real problem came AFTER the game. The refusal to get the medal and trophy and arguing with fans is one of the most classless acts in the history of this tournament. Teaching your players that they are somehow above the game is maybe the worst lesson you can teach them. The IHSA for all their many faults has a chance to make this right. You come down swift and you come down hard on the Brandon Thomas, not necessarily the program, since his infantile actions set the tone. Maybe something like a three year ban from the postseason for Thomas, something like that. This behavior is ridiculous and a horrid example for the 1000s of younger kids watching the game. I say ban him.Comment
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I'd expect a 1 year ban on participating in the tournament.Comment
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I hope he's looking for work.Comment
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more on the tourney turmoil - sounds like there's more than most papers are reporting..
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I was wondering what your take on it was. I was able to see a little of the game. Saw the ejection, and it was deserved.Originally posted by wily coyote View PostPeoria Toyota ScionComment
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