Lopsided scores

[Mark Padgett]

One of the emails I got from an assignor whose working one of the spring leagues around here asked me if I worked, or knew of, any lopsided scores in last weekend's games. I guess there were tons of them and he just wanted to know about them. I told him there was a game on the court next to one of mine in which the final score was 77-22. It was a boys JV game.

All the games I had last weekend (five of them) had final point differentials (notice I don't use the term "point spread") of between 12 and 25 points, which means they all had running clock the whole game (this league has 22 minute running halves with stop clock in the final two minutes if 10 points or less). He emailed back that one game finished 90-12! This was a 7th grade boys game and the most impressive part was that a 7th grade team scored 90 points.

Apparently, there wasn't any particular reason he wanted to know about the scores, he was just curious. BTW - the parents and coaches in this group are absolutely outstanding (comparatively) when it comes to sportsmanship. A lot of the teams (5th grade thru HS boys) are kids who are attending spring camps and the teams represent those camps. The biggest camp, which is located at the YMCA where this league takes place, is run by David Lucas - son of the late Maurice Lucas. I've known David since he was in 3rd grade and he is coaching some of the teams. It's his leadership that is mostly responsible for the attitude of the players, coaches and parents. He and his coaches are using these games as a learning tool.

Now if I could just make sure all my games keep the clock running until the end.