High school bball game nets 7 points - The Orange Mane

DBroncos4life · 01-13-2005, 06:24 PM

Vermont high school hoops game nets 7 points
Jan. 13, 2005
SportsLine.com wire reports

MILTON, Vt. -- Hard to imagine a 3-pointer in the second quarter of a high school boy's basketball game would turn out to be the winning basket -- unless it's one of only three made in the entire game.

Advertisement

That basket, along with an earlier field goal, was all Bellows Free Academy-Fairfax needed to beat Milton on Wednesday night. The final score: 5-2.

To the teams' credit, the score was the result of an apparently deliberate stalling strategy.

It could not immediately be determined if the score was a state or national record low, butit certainly attracted attention.

"We've been talking about it all morning over here," said Bob Johnson, the director of student activities for the Vermont Principals' Association, which governs high school sports.

"It had to have been one of the most boring games in the world," he said.

The scoring was kept way down on purpose, a strategy made possible by the fact that Vermont high schools don't use a shot clock. No player went to the free-throw line as Milton committed five fouls and BFA had one.

BFA took a 5-0 lead and neither team scored in the second half.

"It was the ultimate deliberate stalemate," Milton coach Jim Smith said. "They didn't come out after us and we didn't go in against them."

Smith said the slowdown was implemented because BFA (7-4) has a strong scoring presence, while Milton (2-8) does not. The Milton players believed their best chance to be competitive was to just hold onto the ball.

The strategy almost worked.

"We had a shot go off the rim that would have tied it," Smith said. "We were one possession away to tie the game. We have not been in that position for quite some time."

Alex Weber's basket gave BFA a 2-0 lead in the first quarter. Shadoe Adams' 3-pointer made it 5-0 at the start of the second quarter. Brian Phelps scored later in the period and Milton trailed 5-2 at halftime.

"I've never had a player hit a game-winner in the second quarter before," BFA-Fairfax coach Glen Button Jr. said.

http://www.sportsline.com/general/story/8096437

-Slap- · 01-14-2005, 01:33 PM

The guy is coaching a team that's 2-8. Suppose they would have beaten that team by employing that strategy, who would even care? They made a farce of the game. Just reading this article makes me want to go kick Dean Smith in the nuts.

Smelvin · 01-14-2005, 03:22 PM

Had they beaten that team by employing such strategy, their coach would be a genius. Obviously they have inferior talent, and he employed a strategy that he felt gave them their best chance at winning. I applaud that.

You play to win the game.

01-13-2005, 06:24 PM	#1
DBroncos4life Hey pic Mod!?!?! FU Why yes, that is Bacon Bacon. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: The wrong side of right. Posts: 26,532	High school bball game nets 7 points Vermont high school hoops game nets 7 points Jan. 13, 2005 SportsLine.com wire reports MILTON, Vt. -- Hard to imagine a 3-pointer in the second quarter of a high school boy's basketball game would turn out to be the winning basket -- unless it's one of only three made in the entire game. Advertisement That basket, along with an earlier field goal, was all Bellows Free Academy-Fairfax needed to beat Milton on Wednesday night. The final score: 5-2. To the teams' credit, the score was the result of an apparently deliberate stalling strategy. It could not immediately be determined if the score was a state or national record low, butit certainly attracted attention. "We've been talking about it all morning over here," said Bob Johnson, the director of student activities for the Vermont Principals' Association, which governs high school sports. "It had to have been one of the most boring games in the world," he said. The scoring was kept way down on purpose, a strategy made possible by the fact that Vermont high schools don't use a shot clock. No player went to the free-throw line as Milton committed five fouls and BFA had one. BFA took a 5-0 lead and neither team scored in the second half. "It was the ultimate deliberate stalemate," Milton coach Jim Smith said. "They didn't come out after us and we didn't go in against them." Smith said the slowdown was implemented because BFA (7-4) has a strong scoring presence, while Milton (2-8) does not. The Milton players believed their best chance to be competitive was to just hold onto the ball. The strategy almost worked. "We had a shot go off the rim that would have tied it," Smith said. "We were one possession away to tie the game. We have not been in that position for quite some time." Alex Weber's basket gave BFA a 2-0 lead in the first quarter. Shadoe Adams' 3-pointer made it 5-0 at the start of the second quarter. Brian Phelps scored later in the period and Milton trailed 5-2 at halftime. "I've never had a player hit a game-winner in the second quarter before," BFA-Fairfax coach Glen Button Jr. said. http://www.sportsline.com/general/story/8096437

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-14-2005, 01:33 PM	#2
-Slap- Ring of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 31,895	The guy is coaching a team that's 2-8. Suppose they would have beaten that team by employing that strategy, who would even care? They made a farce of the game. Just reading this article makes me want to go kick Dean Smith in the nuts.

01-14-2005, 03:22 PM	#3
Smelvin Pro Bowler Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 722	Had they beaten that team by employing such strategy, their coach would be a genius. Obviously they have inferior talent, and he employed a strategy that he felt gave them their best chance at winning. I applaud that. You play to win the game.