heck of way to end your hoop season

[Nick's Name]

PIAA rules a double forfeit after Meadville-Uniontown basketball brawl.

PIAA declares Uniontown vs. Meadville boys basketball playoff game a double forfeit | Trib HSSN

Neither Uniontown nor Meadville will advance in the PIAA boys basketball playoffs.

tribhssn.triblive.com

 

[Marylovesthelions]

Blind squirrel finds acorn under an oak tree.

 

[demlion]

PIAA rules a double forfeit after Meadville-Uniontown basketball brawl.

PIAA declares Uniontown vs. Meadville boys basketball playoff game a double forfeit | Trib HSSN

Neither Uniontown nor Meadville will advance in the PIAA boys basketball playoffs.

tribhssn.triblive.com

Wow.

 

[knickslions]

Blind squirrel finds acorn under an oak tree.

Drinking again Mary? Go get help

 

[Parkland Fan]

PIAA rules a double forfeit after Meadville-Uniontown basketball brawl.

PIAA declares Uniontown vs. Meadville boys basketball playoff game a double forfeit | Trib HSSN

Neither Uniontown nor Meadville will advance in the PIAA boys basketball playoffs.

tribhssn.triblive.com

Strange in that the schools are a long way off and probably don't have a history of a rivalry. The decision for a double forfeit might prevent this from happening again.

 

[demlion]

Strange in that the schools are a long way off and probably don't have a history of a rivalry. The decision for a double forfeit might prevent this from happening again.

147 miles apart. I LIKE the sanctions, too.

 

[87 Penn St8]

The PIAA decision is the exact opposite of the outcome for a now 4 time NJ state wrestling champ whose former MMA father started a brawl in Collingswood, NJ 2 weekends ago.

Kid went into stands to "protect family." NJ sanctioning body disqualified him. Parents got a Johnnie Cochran- like lawyer who claims THEY are the victims... kid was able to wrestle and win.

Cornell will force him to greyshirt but will maintain his place on the roster. This story has had me pissed all weekend....

Anthony Knox Jr.’s tainted wrestling title epitomizes all that’s wrong in high school sports | Politi

Anthony Knox Jr. is a four-time champion. He never should have been allowed to wrestle in the state finals.

www.nj.com

 

[sss]

Well, if they also threaten with a lawsuit, ruling may change.

 

[Nick's Name]

Well, if they also threaten with a lawsuit, ruling may change.

Yes. The Meadville coach isn't accepting the PIAA ruling. But I don't think his team should just be allowed to advance unless the last 3:12 of the game is played.
This is what the Meadville coach said, according to the Erie Times-News:

"The kids are obviously very disappointed,” Coach Mark McElhinny told the Times-News. “We’re exploring our legal options and trying to get a better explanation from the PIAA as to what we should have done. Unfortunately, by waiting until the end of the day for the announcement, they didn’t give us much time for legal recourse. But we have some wonderful young men who didn’t deserve this, so we’ll do whatever we can."

 

[Jerry]

Yes. The Meadville coach isn't accepting the PIAA ruling. But I don't think his team should just be allowed to advance unless the last 3:12 of the game is played.
This is what the Meadville coach said, according to the Erie Times-News:

"The kids are obviously very disappointed,” Coach Mark McElhinny told the Times-News. “We’re exploring our legal options and trying to get a better explanation from the PIAA as to what we should have done. Unfortunately, by waiting until the end of the day for the announcement, they didn’t give us much time for legal recourse. But we have some wonderful young men who didn’t deserve this, so we’ll do whatever we can."

I went back and watched the game on YouTube. Meadville, the lower seed, pretty much controlled it throughout and with an 8-point lead and only 3 minutes to go seemed in good shape to move on in the playoffs.

I don't know how the PIAA arrived at its decision. I honestly didn't see anything super egregious happen between the players, nor was the game itself chippy. The issue was in the stands with the fans...and that really was a disgraceful performance on the part of a very few "adults." So for that you penalize the kids and Meadville in particular? It doesn't make a lot of sense.

I think they should have cleared the stands, gathered the players around, calmed things down, and then played the last 3 minutes. I do think that the adults involved in the altercation, and especially the one guy filmed throwing haymakers, should not be allowed back in a high school gym to watch a basketball game for a year or so.

 

[Jerry]

Well, if they also threaten with a lawsuit, ruling may change.

Meadville should do exactly that if it's feasible.

A Uniontown fan walked all the way across the stands and started throwing haymakers, which quickly started a wild melee among fans behind the Meadville bench.

Tape also shows a Uniontown player chasing after a fan and pushing him to the floor.

For this Meadville has to forfeit what was looking to be a very probable playoff win?

The penalties handed out are far more severe for one school than the other, are not aimed at the right offenders, and send the wrong message: if your team is behind by 8 points with 3 minutes to play, no problem, just start a fight and your opponent may end up having to forfeit.