Division II-AA West Basketball

[JJBALL]

The Division 2 tournament begins tonight at ECS, but did the tournament really begin Saturday morning in the coaches meeting?

The TSSAA lets each District or D2 Region set up its own tournament pairings. Most tournament pairings are set up using the regular season standings. But, because Briarcrest had to forfeit three regional games for using an ineligible player (the player played in rec games and is not one of the teams stars), they went from the top seed to being in the play-in game. So, the coaches and athletic directors had to decide how they wanted to do the seedings. Do they take in account the forfeits or not? Well, the schools that would benefit from not counting the forfeits (Briarcrest, CBHS and St. Benedict) voted to not count the forfeits, while ECS and MUS voted to count them. With the 3-2 vote, the forfeits were not consider. Should they have been? Or does it really matter? Does it send a message that if you break a rule you do not suffer any consequences? Again, should it matter?

 

With forfeits

CBHS 5-3

MUS 5-3

ECS 4-4

SBA 3-5

BCS 3-5

 

Without forfeits

BCS 6-2

CBHS 5-3

MUS 4-4

ECS 3-5

SBA 2-6

[bcsaints10]

The Division 2 tournament begins tonight at ECS, but did the tournament really begin Saturday morning in the coaches meeting?

The TSSAA lets each District or D2 Region set up its own tournament pairings. Most tournament pairings are set up using the regular season standings. But, because Briarcrest had to forfeit three regional games for using an ineligible player (the player played in rec games and is not one of the teams stars), they went from the top seed to being in the play-in game. So, the coaches and athletic directors had to decide how they wanted to do the seedings. Do they take in account the forfeits or not? Well, the schools that would benefit from not counting the forfeits (Briarcrest, CBHS and St. Benedict) voted to not count the forfeits, while ECS and MUS voted to count them. With the 3-2 vote, the forfeits were not consider. Should they have been? Or does it really matter? Does it send a message that if you break a rule you do not suffer any consequences? Again, should it matter?

 

With forfeits

CBHS 5-3

MUS 5-3

ECS 4-4

SBA 3-5

BCS 3-5

 

Without forfeits

BCS 6-2

CBHS 5-3

MUS 4-4

ECS 3-5

SBA 2-6

 

 

Briarcrest turned themselves in for one thing. Not that it completely makes up for it, but that shows that they weren't going to hide it from anyone.

CBHS had a player, actually a starter, play rec ball as well.

[hoopsinstead]

Ouch! Big time missed opportunity to demonstrate to the players and everyone watching the process how important character should be in high school sports. No doubt that the decisionmakers involved will regret this forever. They must have been under some intense pressure to compromise their integrity in such a self serving way. This is a precedent that will probably come back to haunt the process for years to come. Also, do we now have a voting block for next year? In other words, a school that voted to not enforce the rules against another school may need to call in that favor next year. I'm glad I don't have a child involved because I can see cause for the parents of all 5 schools to be unhappy with the example set here. Sometimes it takes a little courage to stand up for what you know is right.

 

QUESTION: What does courage have to do with being a person of good character...with someone who stays true to their principles and their values?

 

ANSWER: EVERYTHING!

 

You see, being values-driven means two things:

 

Doing what's right and following our conscience; refusing to compromise our principles, despite pressures and temptations to the contrary, and

Taking a stand against what's wrong and speaking out, whenever we see others do things that are incorrect or inappropriate.

Unquestionably, both of those require guts and fortitude...they require courage.

 

Courage is...

 

Following your conscience instead of following the crowd.

Refusing to take part in hurtful or disrespectful behaviors.

Sacrificing personal gain for the benefit of others.

Speaking your mind even though others don't agree.

Taking complete responsibility for your actions...and your mistakes.

Following the rules and insisting that others do the same.

Challenging the status quo in search of better ways.

Doing what you know is right- regardless of the risks and potential consequences.

I'd like to share the Cadet Prayer that is repeated during chapel services at the U.S. Military Academy:

 

Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half truth when the whole truth can be won. Endow us with the courage that is born of loyalty to all that is noble and worthy, that scorns to compromise with vice and injustice and knows no fear when truth and right are in jeopardy.

 

That is truly the essence of courage.

[wavelax1]

CBHS turned themselves in and that starter sat out the CBHS-Briarcrest game. What does a player gain from playing in rec ball? Who cares if he plays, the only thing that could happen is that player getting hurt and that would be just punishment.

[bcsaints10]

CBHS turned themselves in and that starter sat out the CBHS-Briarcrest game. What does a player gain from playing in rec ball? Who cares if he plays, the only thing that could happen is that player getting hurt and that would be just punishment.

 

 

Exactly. I agree 100%.

[Bighurt]

CBHS turned themselves in and that starter sat out the CBHS-Briarcrest game. What does a player gain from playing in rec ball? Who cares if he plays, the only thing that could happen is that player getting hurt and that would be just punishment.

 

Then why weren't there any forfeits by CBHS?

[bcsaints10]

Then why weren't there any forfeits by CBHS?

 

 

I'm not exactly sure. Wave might know the reason, but I believe it was because after he played in a rec game, he sat out the next few games immediately. While the Briarcrest player played in a rec game then participated in the next few games, which made him ineligible. The Briarcrest player only plays about 2 or 3 minutes a game on varsity tho.