Middle school boys hoops team beats opponent 100-2, controversy ensues

Not even the basketball game in Meatballs can compare to the drubbing that the Pikeville (Ky.) Independent Middle School boys handed to Kimper (Ky.) Elementary and Middle School at the Pike County Preseason Tournament recently. After racing to a 70-0 halftime lead (yep), Pikeville eventually won, 100-2. As a result of the blowout, reports began flying that the school district’s superintendent and school board might cancel the remainder of Pikeville’s season for poor sportsmanship. Those rumors were not true, however.

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This unintentional comedy from Scouts Focus is the funniest thing I’ve read today:

[Pikeville coach Bryan] Johnson told Scouts Focus that he received “a lot of flack” from the 100-2 victory through various online and local mediums. Johnson told Scouts Focus that these mediums attempted to stir controversy, which he feels unjustified under the extenuating set of the circumstances.

Johnson told Scouts Focus that he left his starters in for only 1:48 where they pressed until the lead blossomed to 25-0. Pikeville then proceeded to back up into a 2-3 zone defense for the rest of the half where they ballooned to an unheard of 70-0 lead. Johnson reinserted his starters in the beginning of the second half where he instructed his team to stop playing defense and coax Kimper into scoring. Johnson told Scouts Focus that he had two clear options; to stall the ball or keep playing. Johnson stressed that his goal was to not embarrass any of the opposing kids. Pikeville’s attempts of allowing Kimper to score proved fruitless. Johnson told Scouts Focus that the opposition could not hit any of the many open threes or layups they were coaxed freely into pursuing. Kimper did score on a last second lay-in by 6’0 8th grader Adam Thacker.

Just like a Knicks game!

Sorry, that was mean. I sincerely apologize. Kimper could probably play evenly with the Knicks.

But the question remains: as a coach, what do you do when you’re ahead 25-0 after 1:48 of the first quarter? And 70-0 at halftime? Remember, you’re dealing with kids who haven’t even reached high school. Should Pikeville be disciplined for, basically, pounding on a weak kid?

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100-2 middle school blowout may have repercussions [Prep Rally]