93-to-7 game shows ‘the difference between a coach and an educator’

It took a Massachusetts school superintendent to do what a girls basketball coach could not: apologize for running up the score in a sectional playoff game.

The East Bridgewater Lady Vikings, seeded fifth in the tourney, walked all over the 12th-seeded Madison Park Vocational High School Cardinals, 93-to-7.

Suffice it to say the game was never in doubt, which isn’t the case with what message the coach was trying to send in his game plan.

It was “an unfortunate situation,” superintendent Elizabeth Legault said. That’s school superintendent-speak for “I don’t know what coach Andrew MacDonald was thinking.”

The score was 24-to-0 after one quarter, 48-to-4 at the half.

It was 70-4 as the buzzer sounded ending the third quarter, just as East Bridgewater kicked the ball outside for a three-point basket, the Brockton Enterprise reported. Classy.

East Bridgewater maintained a full-court press into the fourth quarter with its starters still in the game.

Legault asked local media not to report the score, too embarrassed by what her school had just done.

She said the athletic director talked to the coach after the game but declined to say what was said and the coach isn’t talking.

A reporter was barred from attending a team practice to find out more.

“While not trying is not the way to go there are many ways that this could have been turned into a teaching moment. Play bench players who have sat all year supporting and encouraging their teammates. Tell your team they must make 10 passes prior to attempting a shot. Definitely take off the press,” Keith Buohl, a Bridgewater fan said on the school’s Facebook page.

“This is the difference between a coach and educator. I absolutely agree the coach should be disciplined but the administration should be held responsible too,” he wrote. “I am sure they were at the game and could have interceded. Such a sad and unnecessary situation. This is a reflection on all involved.”

“No one likes that type of score,” the school superintendent said. “I’m hoping this game will bring a thoughtful reflection from our program leaders.”

She said the score was not reflective of the student body nor the athletic program at the school.

On that point, she is entirely wrong.

(h/t: Paul Tosto)