Sports
Lincoln High School principal responds after student section kicked out of basketball game – KCCI Des Moines
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The principal of Lincoln High School in Des Moines is defending his school’s student section after the students were kicked out of a basketball game.
Video shows what happened Friday night when Lincoln was playing at Waukee Northwest.
In the fourth quarter, the referees stopped the game. They told the entire Lincoln High School student section to leave the gym.
The Iowa High School Athletic Association said the students were making vulgar comments to the referees throughout the game. Then, the referees had the Lincoln administration stand in front of the student section.
“That seemed to really incite them a little more. There was a lot more bullying going on. Continuing to hear profanity,” IHSAA assistant director Todd Tharp said.
The IHSAA said the referees then told the entire student section to leave.
Lincoln’s principal disagrees with that timeline.
In a Facebook post, Principal Paul Williamson said when the referees stopped the game, that was the first time the officials addressed concerns with school staff. Williamson said within 15 seconds of the warning, the officials ejected the student section.
Williamson also said he does not want to excuse the behavior of his students but wishes he could have addressed it beforehand because he believes students would have responded to the staff’s direction.
The league hasn’t decided if anyone will face further consequences.
Game video courtesy of Pardon My French Media
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