Apologizing for victory?

[allinking17]

DALLAS -- A Texas high school girls basketball team on the winning end of a 100-0 game has a case of blowout remorse.

Now officials from The Covenant School say they are trying to do the right thing by seeking a forfeit and apologizing for the margin of victory.



Samantha Peloza grabs a rebound in practice a week after their 100-0 win.
"It is shameful and an embarrassment that this happened," Kyle Queal, the head of the school, said in a statement, adding the forfeit was requested because "a victory without honor is a great loss."

The private Christian school defeated Dallas Academy 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 athletics 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."

In the statement on the Covenant Web site, Queal said the game "does not reflect a Christ-like and honorable approach to competition. We humbly apologize for our actions and seek the forgiveness of Dallas Academy, TAPPS and our community."

Covenant coach Micah Grimes did not immediately respond to a message left by The Associated Press on Thursday.

Queal said school officials met with Dallas Academy officials to apologize and praised "each member of the Dallas Academy Varsity Girls Basketball team for their strength, composure and fortitude in a game in which they clearly emerged the winner."

Civello said he appreciated the gesture and has accepted the apology "with no ill feelings."

At a shootaround Thursday, several Dallas Academy players said they were frustrated during the game but felt it was a learning opportunity. They also said they are excited about some of the attention they are receiving from the loss, including an invitation from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to see an NBA game from his suite.

"Even if you are losing, you might as well keep playing," said Shelby Hyatt, a freshman on the team. "Keep trying, and it's going to be OK."

Peloza said the coach and other parents praised the Dallas Academy girls afterward for limiting Covenant to 12 points in the fourth quarter. She added that neither her daughter nor her teammates seemed to dwell on the loss.

"Somewhere during that game they got caught up in the moment," Peloza said of the Covenant players, fans and coaches. "Our girls just moved on. That's the happy part of the story."

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[USCTrojans]

100-0 that has to be a first ever in Basketball LOL

[GloBug]

can u believe that. thats amazing. b ut whats up with them saying they will take a forfeit because they feel bad that they whooped them so bad LOL. i guess u can say it is good sportsmanship. i say they are throwing salt on the wound.

[eejit101]

idiots, play to win, if u win 100-0, celebr\ate, dont forfeit

[Dallas12]

Never apologize for a victory. I played sports in high school and we had one of the best teams in the state. And trust me we really kicked some schools butts and the throught never cross our mines to apologize to any of them.

[USCTrojans]

When you compete there's always the chance you can get your azz kicked, so why apologize, seriously this is BULL, but of course, a men's team would not be forfeiting nor apologizing, this is all because its a women team....

[Lilred36]

Well shooting threes when ur up 59--0 at halftime, is what you say a little over the top.They shoulda put all there benchwarmers in ran a offense that killed the clock.Trying to get to a 100 is ok if your in a somewhat competive game.I do feel bad for the team on the losing end, those girls must feel real bad about themselves,high school sports is not about winning, but teamwork and to make the players better people in the future.This my friends is why we are at brink of a depression in this country like none we have never seen.Me,Me,Me,I,I,I, haven't we seen enough of this.This is like saying its ok for CEO"S to get 10 million dollar bonus'e while there slashing there workforce, and people are losing there homes.NDN'ers that agree with these coaches are outa touch, hell even in the Pro's they slack off after victory is assured, would you want your kids to think the only thing important is winning?If so I am very sorry for you.These are 13-17 year olds, a time in your life when you should be learning compasssion for your fellow man.Forfiet no, the girls won, but the school should take a serious look at these coaches and some changes need to be made.

[USCTrojans]

That I agree with, the coach should have put the bench in....

[Lilred36]

Well high school sports in my opion is to teach our kids about teamwork,I do not know the whole story here, but those girls on that losing team could be affected a long time because of this.Dallas I to played in high school although everyone wants to win sportsmanship is what we were taught.Of course if you win there should be no apologies, but in this case the losing team was obviously overmatched and the good players should have been benched, and the goal of getting to a 100 should have never been a goal.This is a girls high school game!!! The win was never in doubt, I really feel sorry for you that agree with this and Dallas if you and Eejit have a little girl that try's her best.It should not matter if they win or lose.This is just another sad saga in the direction this country is headed, shame on all of you that agree with this.If the people in Texas who look over high school sports there do not reprimand the coach for this then they should be ashamed and let go.Sad,Sad times in our country.