DEER VALLEY — Hoping to deter future incidents like the one that marred the finish of the 4A boys basketball championship this winter, the executive committee of the Utah High School Activities Association voted to punish the Bountiful boys basketball program with fines, fewer games and another year of probation.
"If you're a senior and you choose to do this in your last game, then you're going to hurt your school and your former teammates," said Craig Hammer, Region 9 representative. "If we're going to help kids, we need to put them on notice that they will be held accountable."
Because the Bountiful boys basketball program is already on probation for recruiting violations, the committee voted unanimously to fine the program $1000 and extend that probation for another year. The program will also lose two games from its schedule as part of the punishment.
Additionally, because the principal and coach chose not to have the students involved attend the hearing, the school was fined $250.
"This is an association, and without that willingness to cooperate we can't enforce our rules," said Juab principal Rick Durbin. "It strikes at the ability of this association to function. ... We need to cooperate with everyone else."
Two Bountiful seniors, Ben Aird and Jordan Maxwell, were asked to be at Tuesday's hearing to discuss the fact that both boys yelled at an official at the end of the 4A title game because they felt a foul should have been called, which cost them the game. Maxwell not only yelled at the official, he also pushed him once in the chest. Both boys are seniors, who according to their principal, have never even had a technical foul in four years of varsity play.
The committee felt that if a school refused to punish seniors involved in UHSAA rules violations, like poor sportsmanship, then the executive committee had no choice but to act in the only way they can.
"If we're to the point where a school can't discipline kids, then it has to be the program that is accountable," said Wasatch principal Paul Sweat. Associate UHSAA director Rob Cuff said this incident and how it was to be handled was one of the chief concerns the basketball coaches associations had in a meeting last month. Others felt it was important to draw a clear line about what was or wasn't acceptable at prep sporting events.
"This is really huge," said Highland principal Paul Schulte. "In some ways, we're minimizing the fact that a student put his hands on an adult during a school-related activity. That's unacceptable."
He worried that these players, who are well-known, well-liked and well-respected, meant they would be treated differently than other students who have no connection to committee members. Several principals echoed the need to be consistent as well as to send a message that both the behavior and the decision not to cooperate wouldn't be tolerated.
Bountiful boys basketball coach Mike Maxwell spoke to the committee and said as a parent, he chose not to bring his son because he felt the lack of direct contact between the committee and his son was unprofessional, although he later admitted that even if his son had received a letter directly from the UHSAA he would not have attended.
Bountiful principal Rick Astle said the boys had written letters of apology and had a long history of good behavior both as players and students. The coach also discussed the bad behavior with his son and Aird on several occasions.
"That's my job as a father and I took care of it," Maxwell said. Bountiful principal Rick Astle asked the group to keep in mind that both players understood and regretted their actions.
"It was an unfortunate situation," said Astle. "They are good young men who made a mistake ... They are student body officers and they are already giving 20 hours or more in service each month."
The group understood the impulsivity of the teens but not the decision of the school to take very little action and also not to cooperate with the UHSAA.
"Anyone's emotions can get away from them," said Region 18 representative George Bruce. "It's what happened afterward that's the problem. You accept responsibility that it was wrong to do and do the right thing."
The group unanimously concluded the boys should have attended and in fact, chairman Paul Smith said he's spoken with Astle prior to the hearing and assured him they weren't going to embarrass or humiliate the boys. Several principals felt it could have been an opportunity to grow for the boys had they attended and discussed the incident.
"By not showing up, they, in essence, spit in our faces," said Hammer. "Everyone needs to understand, you do not, will not, can not put your hands on an official. Turn the table on this. What if that official had retaliated? Do you think we'd have had any mercy on him? The bottom line is if the principal steps up to the plate and deals with this, it would have ended today."
E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com