The Executive Director of the Illinois High School Association is still concerned about the behavior displayed during the Class 2A Boys state basketball championship game between Harrisburg and Seton Academy. Harrisburg won it's first ever championship in a 50-44 victory Saturday in Peoria.
The IHSA talked with administrators at both schools Monday following what they called a lack of sportsmanship during the game. IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman says the players and coaches of both teams got out of control. He says he talked with both schools coaches and athletic directors at half time of the game and warned them if things didn't improve he would end the game. Seton Academy's Mark Weems received two technical fouls and was ejected from the game for unsportsmanlike like conduct for coming into contact with an official. Harrisburg's Dakota Upton received a technical foul during the first quarter and coach Smithpeters was warned by officials for coming out of his box.
Seton academy walked off the court after the game and did not accept its 2nd place trophy. Hickman says the school will never receive the trophy. No action was immediately taken by the IHSA after Monday's talks with both schools, but Hickman says there could still be sanctions. The IHSA Board is likely to discuss the issue at its meeting later this week.
It's the first ever state boys basketball championship for Harrisburg. Harrisburg coach Randy Smithpeters says it's a win for their entire community. Harrisburg Superintendent Dennis Smith, in a statement sent to the Peoria Journal Star, says "Harrisburg School District takes strong exception to any implication that the Harrisburg High School state championship team or coaches displayed unsportsmanlike conduct or promoted behaviors counterproductive to fair play and competition... But after careful review, the District is convinced that Harrisburg players, coaches, and fans were not part of any behavior that would rise to a public scolding by the IHSA.”
The IHSA has warned those schools competing in the class 3A and 4A super sectionals and state tournament to reinforce the expectations of sportsmanship and appropriate behavior.
