[CMHCoachNRef]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

8th grade boys game last night and the final was 64-4. It was 44-2 at halftime. There's no mercy rule in this league, so we never had running clock, plus the winning team could still press all the way until the end, although they took the press off when they initially got up by about 20. Most of the second half, the winning coach had his team pull back on fast breaks and set up. Also, for about the final 4 minutes, he told them to shoot only threes and to pass the ball at least 3 times in the front court before a shot.

He made sure his bench got as much, if not more, playing time as his starters.

After the game, he told the other teams's kids "You guys played hard the whole game" as he shook all their hands.

Compared to some of the stories about routs that have been here recently, this one seemed like an example of fairly decent sportsmanship.

Here's something funny for you local Portland area guys. In my earlier game, it was Tualatin vs. Lake Oswego. Tualatin had an inbound play named "laker". Every time they called it, the LO boys would just look at each other. For you out of towners, Lake Oswego HS is the "Lakers" and all their lower teams use the same nickname.

There are ways to keep your team into the game and working hard without humiliating the other team. This coach found a few. Continuing to play the same way -- pressing/fastbreaking -- all game is just a cop out by the coach. If they play against a smart team, the press will not necessarily be effective and they will not score many baskets in transition. Therefore, EVENTUALLY ALL TEAMS must know how to run a 1/2 court offense and play good solid half court defense. There is no better time to try something new than when you are in a blowout game.