Nasty scene in 3A girls QF

[kwhs95fan]

I just saw video from an incident involving James Monroe girls and Hopewell girls from last night. Looks like with about a minute to go a JM player scored and then did some trash talking to the Hopewell player. The Hopewell player then punches the JM player in the face knocking her to the ground. Police and administration had to come on the court. The Hopewell player was sat on the bench and then proceeded to clap and dance about it. That's 2 games last night, this one and the Floyd/Virginia boys, where police and administration had to come on the court. Unsure of what disciplinary action was or will be taken. JM won the game by 24. Not sure if their player got into trouble or not, since it was her trash talking that started it. If she was ejected, then I'd think she'd be unable to play in their semifinal game. Maybe anyone with more insight can weigh in

 

[m-squared]

I was at the game. I'll admit that I didn't see what happened, just saw the JM girl laying on the court at mid-court. I will say that this was a brief incident, no fans came onto the court and there was no other interaction between players relative to it. All players for both teams stayed at or near their bench and no players for either team came off of their bench. There were no technical foul shots by either team, so it seemed there were no technical fouls called. I believe the Hopewell coach removed their player and someone told me afterwards (I didn't notice one way or the other) that the JM girl stayed on the court. If so, there was no technical called on her either. I didn't notice the officials make any call as a result of the unfortunate incident. Everything calmed down in a couple of minutes (at the most, sometimes things like this seem to last longer that they really did) and the game continued to conclusion without any other incidents.

I would hate to see this one incident make either team look bad. I would hate to see what was an exciting well played game by both teams judged by this one incident. Hopewell had one fantastic player (don't know her name) that I heard after the game had 40 points. JM's top scorer had 36. It was an intense, but clean and well played game for both teams. Hopewell played really well, JM just pulled away in the second half. I've seen most of the JM games this year and there hasn't been anything like this incident in any of the other games. They play an intense full court press and pressure defense. They push the ball up the court fast when they get it. But they play clean. This year is the first time in 20 years that the JM girl's team has made the state semi-finals. It's a big deal to the girls and their coach and their school and community. Their coach played 20 years ago on the last JM team to make the state semi-finals.

Have a good one!

 

[Valley Man]

JM player did not stay in the game. The NFHS feed has announcers. The Hopewell player was disqualified and the JM player as well since the clear taunting led to the sucker punch. Double flagrant fouls and point of interruption throw in. No free throws

 

[m-squared]

Thanks for the clarification. That wasn't obvious from being at the game. Like I said, I didn't notice whether the JM player stayed on the court or not. This is a teaching opportunity for both teams. Hopefully they take advantage. I agree that since she was ejected, the JM player should miss the semi-final at Grafton. This isn't indicitive of how JM plays.

 

[Valley Man]

Sure .. unless there is a statement or something that would be the best guess since no FT were shot. If they player plays FRI then they messed something up.

 

[PistolSnap1]

A JM player got a technical earlier in the quarter for taunting. That isn't being mentioned here. This trend of kids clapping in other kids faces finally escalated into something more. It's a move made to look like they are celebrating something they did, when in fact, they are using it to taunt. This is the first time I've seen it called but it's been going on for a few years now across the board (mainly girls basketball). JM was up 20 when this clapping and technical foul was called. More "clapping" later led to the punch. I don't condone the taunting or the punching obviously.

 

[m-squared]

You are correct on all accounts. I also don't condone taunting or punching or any other extracurricular activity. I hope that JM has taken time today to talk to their players to make sure this never happens again. I only really initially responded because I didn't want anyone to judge the entire game or the two teams on the one or as you pointed out two unfortunate plays. Outside of those two things, it was hard fought good clean game. I've seen a number of JM games this year and nothing like these two incidences has occurred in either of them. The only other Hopewell game I've seen is the Regional championship game with Grafton and nothing like this happened in it either.

Have a good one everyone!