Five high school senior girls' basketball players in Texas are alleging their coach purposefully left them behind following the loss of their final game.
According to the Houston NBC affiliate, the five players were seniors at Alvin High School, playing the final game of their season at Dawson High School.
Parents called the move "petty," noting that it overshadowed what was otherwise a bittersweet senior night.
“None of us were told anything as far as, ‘Oh, we’re leaving — get on the bus,'" one player told NBC.
The girls said they realized the bus had already left while they were taking photos after the game.
“We were all in shock. All we could really do was laugh. It wasn’t a funny situation — we couldn’t believe it,” said senior Hayden Holloway.
One player on the bus apparently tried to alert the coaching staff, but the head coach said to leave the senior there.
“The head coach just said leave them there,” Hayden said.
At least one parent said she was upset but not entirely surprised by the coach's actions.
“Before the basketball season, I told her that she was immature and petty, and that it was going to come back to get her because you can’t be that way with kids,” said Amanda Holloway, Hayden’s mother.
The school district is currently investigating the matter.
Parents and players are calling for disciplinary action against the head coach and other staff involved, and for the district to ensure similar incidents do not happen in the future.
