A Connecticut high school has issued an apology and suspended its head coach after its girls' varsity basketball team beat a Southern Connecticut Conference opponent Monday 92-4.
As reported by CT Insider, Jason Kirck, head coach of Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden, was not available for comment Tuesday, the day his suspension was announced, and athletic director Raymond Degnan said he had nothing to add beyond a statement issued from school president Sr. Sheila O’Neill.
“Sacred Heart Academy values the lessons taught and cultivated through athletic participation including ethical and responsible behavior, leadership and strength of character and respect for one’s opponents. Last night’s Girls’ Basketball game vs Lyman Hall High School does not align with our values or philosophies,” O’Neill said in the statement. “Sacred Heart Academy Administration and Athletics are deeply remorseful for the manner through with the outcome of the game was achieved. We are in communication with Lyman Hall High School, the Southern Connecticut Conference and CIAC [Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference], and are addressing these concerns internally to ensure that our athletic programs continue to encourage personal, physical and intellectual growth.”
An email obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media sent to athletic directors in the SCC stated that Sacred Heart wanted them to be aware Kirck has been suspended for Sacred Heart’s game Thursday at rival Hamden.
Sacred Heart Academy, 3-0 and ranked third in the GameTimeCT girls' basketball poll, led Lyman Hall 29-0 after one quarter, 56-0 at halftime and 80-0 after three quarters. The Sharks' first two victories of the season were by scores of 83-48 and 80-37.
“Sacred Heart pressed for most of the first half then called it off and went into a tight man-to-man half-court defense trying to get steals,” Lyman Hall coach Tom Lipka said in an email to Hearst Connecticut Media. “They fast-breaked the entire game right to the end. They never went into a zone and continued to push the ball up the court and shoot threes wherever they could. They showed no mercy throughout.”
The CIAC handbook, under its “Class Act” Sportsmanship Standards, states: Coaches will be aware of the competitive balance of contests and will manage the score in a manner that is sportsmanlike and respectful of opponents.
This was the first meeting between the two teams since Dec. 27, 2017 when Lyman Hall beat Sacred Heart 58-32. The teams are scheduled to meet again Jan. 28.
Lyman Hall is 0-5 this season. Its previous four losses came by an average deficit of 23 points.
