The nuances of youth sports can be very complicated, and certain situations warrant intense debate over the grey area between "giving it your all" and "running up the score." But in the case of Arroyo Valley high school and head coach Michael Anderson, there's no doubt something unethical occurred earlier this month.
According to the San Bernardino Sun, Anderson's Arroyo Valley girls defeated Bloomington High 161-2 nearly two weeks ago, a final score that caused outrage and eventually got Anderson suspended for two games by the California high school league.
Many figurative shots were fired after the contest.
"People shouldn't feel sorry for my team," Bloomington coach Dale Chung said. "They should feel sorry for his team, which isn't learning the game the right way."
Anderson claimed to have sat all his starters after taking a 104-1 halftime lead, and said he asked for a running clock to be implemented in the third quarter (it wasn't granted until the fourth).
"I didn't expect them (Bloomington) to be that bad, I'm not trying to embarrass anybody," he said. "And I didn't expect my bench to play that well. I had one (bench) player make eight of nine 3s."
Bloomington athletic director Chris Brickley didn't attend the contest, but he had his two cents.
"I think they crossed the line although I don't think Arroyo Valley agrees with that," Brickley said.
ESPN reports that Anderson has already missed one game while serving his suspension, an 80-19 nail biter that his son, Nick, coached.
Chung thinks he's learned his lesson.
"I've known him for about seven years ... He's a great Xs and Os coach," Chung said. "Ethically? Not so much. He knows what he did was wrong."
H.S. girls basketball game that ends 161-2 provides learning opportunity https://t.co/ae03sArAOq #ArroyoValley pic.twitter.com/oJ9HCt8XVC
— Inside SoCal Sports (@InsideSoCalSpts) January 11, 2015
