High school basketball team gives up title after coach discovers they didn’t actually win

>> Maurice: WE END THE WEEK WITH A LESSON IN SPORTSMANSHIP AND INTEGRITY, BROUGHT TO US BY STEVE HARTMAN, “ON THE ROAD.” [WHISTLE BLOWING] >> ALL RIGHT, GIRLS! EVERYBODY IN THE MIDDLE! >> Reporter: THE ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM IN OKLAHOMA CITY RETURNED TO THE COURT THIS WEEK. THEIR FIRST PRACTICE SINCE LAST YEAR’S DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP, WHERE THEY HIT A BUZZER BEATER THAT BOTH ENDED THE GAME… [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AND STARTED IT ALL. >> THE WHOLE SEASON WAS BUILDING UP TO THAT MOMENT. >> AND IT WAS, LIKE, ONE OF THE BEST FEELINGS. >> AND IT WAS REALLY EXCITING JUST TO, LIKE, SEE OUR HARD WORK FINALLY PAY OFF. >> Reporter: IT WAS THE TEAM’S FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP EVER. OR WAS IT? COACH BRENDAN KING. AS YOU’RE CELEBRATING. >> MM-HMM. >> Reporter: THERE’S A PART OF YOU THAT’S WONDERING. >> RIGHT. AS SOON AS I WALKED OUT OF THE LOCKER ROOM, MY STOMACH KIND OF TURNED INTO KNOTS, AND I SAID I’M GOING TO NEED TO KNOW IF WE REALLY WON THIS GAME OR NOT. >> Reporter: SO AT HE DID THAT NIGHT, AND AGAIN THIS WEEK AT OUR REQUEST, WAS GO HOME AND WATCH THE GAME TAPE. AT ONE POINT, THERE HAD BEEN SOME CONFUSION ABOUT THE SCOREBOARD, SO JUST TO BE SURE, HE RECOUNTED EVERY BASKET AND DISCOVERED HIS TEAM ACTUALLY LOST. >> IT REALLY TORE ME TO PIECES. IT REALLY DID. >> Reporter: BUT TECHNICALLY, IT DIDN’T MATTER. LEAGUE RULES SAY ONCE A GAME IS DONE, THE SCORE IS THE SCORE. THERE IS NO CHANGING IT. BUT COACH KING DECIDED TO TELL HIS TEAM, ANYWAY. AND WHEN THEY HEARD WHAT HAD HAPPENED, THE CONSENSUS WAS UNANIMOUS. >> IT WOULD’VE FELT WRONG, I THINK, TO HAVE TAKEN THE TROPHY REGARDLESS. >> YEAH. >> IT WAS A REALLY GOOD TEACHING MOMENT FOR US TO JUST BE LIKE, THIS IS NOT THE WHOLE POINT. >> Reporter: WHICH IS WHY THIS ACADEMY TEAM MADE THE UNPRECEDENTED DECISION TO APPEAL THEIR OWN CROWNING VICTORY, ASK IT BE TAKEN AWAY, AND AWARDED TO THEIR COMPETITION, APACHE HIGH SCHOOL. THE LEAGUE AGREED, AND COACH KING HAND-DELIVERED THE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAQUE. >> JUST REALLY SPECIAL THAT HE CAME OUT AND DID THAT. >> NOT EVERYONE WOULD HAVE DONE THAT. >> Reporter: APACHE COACH AMY MERIWETHER SAYS HER TEAM IS GLAD TO HAVE THE TITLE, BUT EVEN HAPPIER FOR THE HOPE THAT CAME WITH IT. >> IT SHOWED US, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE STILL GOOD PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD. IT’S SOMETHING THAT WE’LL ALWAYS REMEMBER. >> Reporter: CHAMPIONS ALL. STEVE HARTMAN, “ON THE ROAD,” IN OKLAHOMA CITY. >> Maurice: WOW. CHAMPIONS FOR LIFE. THEY TAKE THAT FORWARD. JUST OUTSTANDING. >> John: CHARACTER, YOU KNOW, IS WHAT YOU DO WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING — >> Maurice: EXACTLY. >> John: NO ONE WAS LOOKING OVER HIS SHOULDER ALL BY HIMSELF THERE, LATE AT NIGHT. IT’S A GOOD LESSON. >> Maurice: THAT WE CAN ALL LEARN

After an exciting championship win for the girls’ basketball team at Academy High School, a coach watched the tape, leading to an unthinkable act of sportsmanship. Steve Hartman goes “On the Road” to Oklahoma City for the story.

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28 comments

  1. So they didnt lose… they would have played the game differently if they knew they were losing. They should just do an unofficial rematch. Winner gets the trophy.

  4. This is a lesson on how this generation still doesn't know how to Count…it's not a lesson in Honestly…this is just a Stupid Story for people who want 15 minutes of fame…this helps no one..the other team didn't get a celebration or Trophy…

  6. If this wasnt such a joke of a network they would have explained what was the error in the scoring.. but typical for CBS.. total clowns.

  7. Coach McCarthy, founder of Promise Keepers did not have 1/2 the integrity of this coach when his team got 5 downs in 1990.

  17. Im curious if all the players on the now losing team agreed to give up the title. The reporter did use the word "consensus," which means the majority. That implies not all the players agreed. Official mistakes are not uncommon and thats why once the game is over, its over. Otherwise, the entire season would need to be redone. If a player did not want to relinquish the title in which they won officially by the rules, why should they have to give that up?

  18. 😢😢 I don’t know if it’s because aunt Flo’s visiting me, but I am crying my eyes out with happy tears 😭
    This wonderful story gives me so much Hope 🫶🏼 In a world that feels so divisive right now having an 18yr old and a 7yr old I’m so worried about their future.🤦‍♀️ It seems like those who are supposed to be role models for these kids will do anything to win doesn’t matter who they lie, cheat, or steal or step on as long as you’re the winner. 🏆 There is Hope in this world. More good than evil !

  20. Excellent and beautiful ethics being practiced here with far-reaching ramifications (one need only imagine, as an example, wrongful convictions in the legal system). Yes, these are true champions.

  21. Had they known they were down more than they were they would have played the last few minutes differently. So it's impossible to say they actually lost.

  22. wonderful story. There is an old Rabbinic story that i’m not going to retell, but the moral of that story is, G-d is always watching.

  24. This showed class, humility, honesty, and integrity. By this act alone, they are all winners. This was a teachable moment, and they aced it. Congratulations to all. Coach, you are truly a wonderful person, and that team is blessed to have you leading them. 💙

  28. It makes you wonder if the other team would have done the same if the situation was reversed. I noticed the the other team's coach wasn't present for the interview.

Comments are closed.