Sanctions levied by the association are related to the Braves' 4A state final loss to Provo High in February.
At the end of the game, senior Jordan Maxwell felt he had been fouled as he tried to get off a desperation three-point shot to tie the game. Game official Greg Spencer did not believe a foul had occurred, and no call was made.
Jordan Maxwell, son of coach Mike Maxwell, shoved Spencer, and Ben Aird screamed at the official.
The UHSAA later met with Astle, Mike Maxwell and Bountiful High Athletic Director Larry Wall -- this week issuing a ruling significantly worse than had been expected.
Bountiful was handed an initial $1,000 fine, a loss of two games next season, a one-year extension of the probation already in place by the UHSAA against Bountiful basketball for what it deemed unnecessary influence on players outside its boundaries.
"I am very disappointed by the way this came down," Astle said. "I met with Jordan and Ben twice, and they understand what they did was wrong. They sent sincere letters of apology to the UHSAA, and we didn't believe the boys had to be at the meeting."
Maxwell was frustrated that the players heard about the meeting through the media in March, not the UHSAA. The official e-mail about the meeting, according to Maxwell, did not come until April. He also noted the UHSAA never officially notified the Aird family or his family of the meeting.
Maxwell said, "When we were finally informed by the UHSAA about the meeting via an e-mail they sent to Mr. Astle, it was suggested that the boys attend, not required."
"If they wanted the boys to attend, they should have contacted their families directly through a letter."
Maxwell added that he as a parent chose not to have his son out of school for the meeting, which was held at the posh Chateau in Deer Valley, a drive of at least one hour each way.
That decision landed Maxwell with an extra $250 fine.
"I don't see how they can fine me as a parent for not taking my son out of school," Maxwell said. "I have the right to not take my son out of school and I honestly didn't believe he needed to be there. They suggested he and Ben be there, not required it."
Jane Aird, Ben's mother, did not want her son out of school for the day, either.
"Ben was on a choir trip and missed three days of school and I didn't want him out of school for this," Aird said.
No one from the UHSAA was available for comment and no press release was offered to members of the media on the matter.
"These are two good kids who made poor choices," Astle said. "These are two boys who don't have a history of behavioral problems. They do a lot of voluntary community service and are fine, upstanding citizens. We didn't say what they did was OK. We just don't think the penalty fit the situation.
Maxwell was annoyed by the entire process.
"It was amazing," he said. "The UHSAA is up there at this expensive resort spending our tax dollars and then treat us like this?
"We're at the schools struggling to have enough paper for a copy machine and other essentials and the UHSAA is up at this Deer Valley resort?
"I believe they have a personal vendetta against me and Bountiful basketball. They were mad because we didn't give them what they wanted, the two boys, and so they came down hard on us."
Maxwell noted that the trickle down effect from these latest UHSAA sanctions will have a negative impact on two other schools.
"Schedules are already set up for next year," he said. "We now have to call two schools and cancel their games with us and it puts the other schools in the position of scrambling to find replacement games. Is that fair? I don't think so."
sschulte@davisclipper.com
Post a Comment
