It's been a while since my last blog because I caught pneumonia, was hospitalized because my heart went into atrial fibrillation which caused heart failure. But I'm on medication and back in action just in time for the best time of the high school basketball season.
Unfortunately, there was an ugly side to Brookfield Central’s 71-54 win over Milwaukee Pulaski at Central in the WIAA Regional Championships on Feb. 23.
The visiting Rams were called for 33 fouls to 16 for Central. The Lancers were 30-of-39 from the free-throw line, while Pulaski managed 8-for-15 and had four players foul out.
Rams coach Billy Harris turned toward his fans late in the game and shouted out "Brookfield Central bought the refs." It’s no secret the officials are assigned to the game by the WIAA and not hired by the host school, so someone needs to tell Billy.
Then when Central coach Mark Adams called a full-time out with a minute left to get his seniors into their final home game, Harris shouted at Adams and approached him at mid-court.
When Adams explained he was trying to get the seniors in the game and didn’t have a 30-second timeout left, he had to use a full timeout. Harris yelled out "I’m not mad at you, I’m mad at them," pointing to the officials. But then, going against what he said, he called a 30-second timeout to try to make a point of some kind.
When the game was over, one of the Ram players ran after an official and the coaches had to chase him down. The Pulaski team then walked off the court and refused to shake hands with the Lancers, but Harris yelled at his squad and told them to get in line and shake hands. At that point, most of the players walked past the Central players and didn’t even attempt to shake their hands.
"Billy paid me a compliment before the game," Adams said. "He said we’re trying to get our program where yours, King and Vincent’s is. I’ve never had anybody say that to me. I have a lot of respect for them."
Harris just had a funny way of showing it.
Agree or disagree, feel free to comment.
And remember to always be a hit and have a ball
