I agree with the coach, what a gutless punk. At least we are shipping him out of Pittsburgh to let someone else deal with his nonsense...He could not even hit him straight up he had to sucker punch him, what a loser who will get his when Karma catches his sorry behind.............

Dig a little bit deeper before you write something like this. Allegedly the Peters Township players were dropping racial slurs. If it's true, their players deserved what they got.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_782474.html

I'm sorry, but I'm tired of the racial slur line. That goes both ways.

Ehat do you mean it goes both ways? Does the Woodland Hills kid have any record of ever being a problem?

All I know for sure is that in the mid 90s, I worked in one of these communities that have been accused of racism and was totally appalled of what I experienced ... it seemed like I was in 1930s Mississippi.

now hearing WPIAL will not review this incident at next scheduled WPIAL meeting (this Tuesday I believe)

the incident deserves prompt review - either at the next scheduled meeting or a special meeting

and WPIAL should include a review of film (of game) if possible
.

Bottom line...
Criminal charges should be filed against Alonzo..

As for the "Race Card"... if so, the ref would have heard it. Highly doubtful.
It wouldn't surprise me if "mom" added fuel to the fire as she was with him on the sidelines when he got ejected.

And yes... I would pull the ship..
I advocated for Pitt to pull the ship on Geter as well as Foster for their tweets.... this is far worse.

I read the trib article...
now he is saying the "n-word" was the racial slur...
whatever...
ridiculous...
problem is, the blacks call themselves the "n-word" all the time... via tweets, etc.. but I guess that is ok??
I bet Mom is the one that insighted it with her son... added fuel to the fire.
jtp... your comment.. if true they deserved what they got... well then Alonzo should go to jail for aggravated assault and be sued civilly.

Seems like he would be a perfect fit for the Cincy BB team. I said not to rush to judgement but if he is using the race card and nothing like that really happened, then thats wrong. But again, I wasnt there so I dont know. I just think in this day and age especially with what just happened w/Monnesen and Brentwood, the PT kids would be smarter than that. A bad, ugly incident to be sure. And it is a shame because the kid had an illustrious HS career and will mostly be remembered for this. One question is why this didnt come out right after the game and not a day later when a cooler mind had time to think about it and do damage control.

law,
you answered your own question...
the reason it came out today instead of yesterday is because it didn't occur. The race card is an easy card to play!! Ask Johnny Cochran.

I agree with Jack on this one. In some instances, it can go both ways with name calling and slurs regardless of race. I've seen this first hand as a former WPIAL athlete - there are things that are said both aloud and under one's breath. In any event, trash talking or slurs are completely inexcusable.

According to the article in the Trib and a few other sources, there was talk going both ways during the game. Even if that is the case, there is no reason to lose your composure like Alonzo did. He even said that Pritz was not his intended target, yet he punched him anyway.

Bottom line: the situation was out of control and it's a shame how things went down. Hopefully, those involved in athletics can learn from this, so these kinds of incidents can be prevented in the future.

I agree with crwc33. The incident is a shame and this development just makes a sad situation even sadder.

Only the kids know what was or was not said but based on the fact that in their comments after the game neither the WH coach or AD mentioned any alleged racial slurs it does make it very tough to beleive now.

Im sure this young man is seeing his future flash before his eyes and is desperatebut that doesnt excuse his behavior.

Very, very sad circumstance for all invovled. I think its important not to lose sight of the fact that the kid to feel sorry for is the one from Peters (as the WH coach said after the game).

The question is... what type of discipline should WH do with Alonzo??
In-school suspension?? I don't think that will accomplish anything as senior year and BB season is over.
Clearly don't expel... I don't support that.
Perhaps some sort of community service in addition to in-school suspension.
Perhaps eliminate Alonzo from any athletics or extracurricular for the remainder of the year including the weight room.

I didnt hear the WH coach defend his player - he said the opposite - that he was embarrassed, etc. If racial slurs were used, then it seems reasonable that the WH coach would have defended his player in that manner and he didnt.

It is typical of the inner-city youth of this generation - life doesnt treat you in the manner you like or think is fair and next think you know, its some form of violence. He will fit in well with the thugs on the Cincy hoops team...

Here is the quote from WH coach Mike Decker in PG article...


""What I saw was a guy out of control and I'm going to leave it at that," Woodland Hills coach Mike Decker said. "I'm completely embarrassed by the situation. That's not the way I coach and that's not the image I want my team to portray."

To the fool who replied to my post, the race card is such a cop out and used everytime a black person refuses to take responsibility for their foolish actions. 1930's please...WH coach even said the player is a disgrace, basically, no mention of a slur and he was right there on the floor...As long as ignorant people keep bailin these punks out, they will continue to play victim and remember if it was a white student, the whole WH team would have jumped him or worse if he takes a shot at the shakim kid...a bunch of crap!!!! GROW A SET SYMPATHIZERS...

Kid is going to Cincy for FOOTBALL not Basketball.. Watched this kid against PCC over the last 2 years and he is a nice athlete. Hopefully the kid from Peters was not severely injured and this can be a real life wakeup call for Alonzo. Discipline should follow suit but once again he is a kid. Not defending him or his actions but everyone on here must realize that when they see incidents in the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB happen with little or no punishment they feel that they can do the same..

Good article from OR reporter who was at game

http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/dugan11/02-20-2012-chris-column

thanks anon, great article just to show you that PT will be penalized while the WH jerk walks away laughing playing the race card...just another reason for me to continue to root against WH in everything they do or play...district is a joke and the face of their sports program just put a stamp on it...

Was involved in two similar incidents over the last two years in central PA. One involving a player on my kid's squad being accused of dropping the "N" bomb on a player on the opposing team during the handshake. I have no idea if he said it or not. Talked to my son, said he didn't think his teammate said it.

Other incident was during summer league game. My son got up after a "scrum' and is livid. Never saw him that way before. He is going after the kid. Refs immediately eject him. Parent yells something derogatory about my kid (who he doesnt' know at all). After game, both coaches are talking to my son.

His coach who had known him for two years is upset as he has NEVER seen him lose it, and doesn't doubt my son's story. Other coach says his kid denies saying anything, but he apologizes as the character he has seen out of my kid prior was not evidenced in that episode.

Striking in both incidents was refs didn't hear anything either time.

Hopefully someone can get the kids ear to let him know that he has to rise above that type of thing... Even in the heat of the moment. Also, a message about making false statements and the problems with doing that and what it leads to, if the incident didn't happen. There are plenty of teachable moments here.

Can't really tell the age of the folks on the thread, but knowing enough not take your personal experience and put it in a situation that you have NOT been in should be valued here. Indicating he shouldn't be upset cause Blacks call each other the N word in tweets is beyond the pale. I'm amazed an adult would let that comment be attached to them.

Also, another coach calling for the scholarship revocation of a kid from an opposing team is not a good look. You would think coaches are more adept at post game commentary than HS players, but in this case apparently that is not the case.

All I can say to most of this thread is WOW.....

I remember the North Catholic vs. Jeanette incident several years ago. I believe the teams had to go through counseling, maybe some community service. I believe George Novak (Woody Hills AD) when he says that it will be dealt internally within the school district. Bank on it.

At the end of the day, Peters loses a kid for the next game. The WPIAL has to do something here. You can't let it go without some repercussion. If not, as we've seen, it will get out of control more and more down the road. Just sayin'.

All ethnic groups call each other names within their group that they wouldn't want others outside the group to call them! Italians, Poles etc. So stop acting like its ok when it comes to AA!!! When have you ever heard a white kid admit to using the N word? All the outrage is interesting! How bad is the kid hurt? Didn't he return to the game?If he can't play the next game he probably shouldn't have been in that one.

WH sure bailed on the kid quickly. If he has been such a problem why was he playing? It's easy to throw him away now, no more games to win.

Joe D don't ask Johnny Corchran ask Jonny Gammage... oh, he didn't get to play his card.

PG has article out...
Criminal charges most likely to be filed!!!
Should be aggravated assault...
if they do simple assault... that is a slap in the face!! The kid need stiches!!

PG should really take this blog down. Some comments are outrageously ignorant. This is an embarrassment to the entire city of Pittsburgh.

This is WOODY High the district has been out of control for sometime. This is the same school who started a running bcak that was pulled over and had a fire arm on him and played several games before finaaly he was sat down.So lets not be to shocked. More important, lets see what the school and the WPIAL will do about it.

WHSPIRIT18 where you at? lets here what you have to say.

Wait for what wpial has to say about this???
What did they say about the Brentwood v Monessen issue? Those Brentwood kids, etc were wrong!! and it made national news yet it seemed the locals (media included) swept it under the rug!

Calu police consulting with Washington county DA over charges.

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/...92-100.stm

Ironman...
I saw that... if someone get stitches.. bled.. etc..
and the bozo is thinking to ONLY file harrassment or simple assault... that is just a plain joke.
The complaint should read aggravated assault..
whether they negotiate it down to something different is another discussion.

In a related note, seems strange that after a kid has been down on the court for 10 minutes that the Peters coaching staff would put him back in the game w/o having him go to the hospital and be checked for concussion. It turns out that he didnt which is great but you would think with all the stuff that went on there, they would err on the side of caution. They had a fairly comfortable lead and WH best player had been thrown out. I know Peters lost a player too but if the PT kid had been down that long....I dont know. Joe D was right about charges being filed. Hate to see that trickle down to HS sports but maybe it is warranted in this case

And I know that Peters had a trainer there and Im sure paramedics were there but only a physician with testing can tell for sure about a concussion.

Video interviews of Gary Goga and Mike Decker. It's a clean video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-bdKg8A9DY

When I read about potential concussion... several things came to mind..
1. Did the coaches go through concussion training?
2. Did the athlete have a IMPACT baseline test?
3. Do the coaches have the SCAT card and tip sheet on their clipboards?
4. Who cleared the player to go play?

Peters had an issue with it's football trainer!! Wonder if that trainer goes to BB games for Peters.

Ironman thanks for that link. Those were very good interviews, everybody that's commenting should watch them. I have a better prospective now after watching them.

Just watched the video (thanks Ironman) and agree with Sandman about interviews. Both coaches were class acts and you could tell that Decker was upset and sick about it. And Goga never once mentioned anything about the WH staff, as he and Decker are apparently friends and Goga knows that Decker doesnt coach like that. I coached HS sports for 16 yrs and you dont always know what a kids going to do. The video also gives you a better idea of how the bus thing happened. Also, why was the higher seeded team traveling to play in basically PT's backyard. Seems to me it should be the other way around. Anyone have any reason for that cause lets face it, you re not going to get big crowds for a quarter final game; could be played in any HS gym.

I didn't hear any coach mention racist comments were being made by Peters toward WH.

the person(s) responsible for selecting the location of the game should have been punched

absolutely no way should the game been scheduled to be played at Cal

#4 seed especially should not travel this distance to play a first round game

40 miles - to play a WPIAL first round playoff game

heads should roll

.

Along with that 42" vertical, his stock is rising. College of Charleston. Wow.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/...82406.html

and this is not just about the kids and coaches - but the families also

if you have parents and other relatives that attend their grandchildren's games you will understand

.

the 42" vertical - in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ka4m_0536Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player

.

the 42" vertical - measured:

http://pittsburghbasketballreport.com/Fallshowcase2011eventpictures.html

.

try that again:


http://pittsburghbasketballrep...tures.html


.

and try this one again:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...ata_player

.

That oop in the NA game was insane. Kid is really good.

Thanks for posting the interviews of Goga and Decker, Ironman.

I have to agree with Sandman1 and Law - the interviews really give good insight on what happened. Definitely a good watch for anyone wanting to learn more about this incident.

Hopefully, the WPIAL is on this and will ensure proper discipline for those involved.

40 miles from Woody High to Cal U? Who planned that trip? No way....

I grant you that it would take longer to go from Woodland Hills to Cal U than from Peters to Cal U but to say Cal is in Peters backyard is so inaccurate that it shows your bias. Its from one end of Washington County to the other...Now if the game was at Canon-Mac, then you would be correct in saying that it was in Peters backyard....

Not sure why someone is against Peters coach saying Cincy should revoke the kid's scholarship - hes basically saying that the behavior exhibited by Alonso was worthy of not being rewarded with a scholarship - freedom of speech in which just his opinion was spoken - nothing personally derogatory against Alonso...

I will believe Alonso's claim of the "N" word being dropped if his coach verifies it - its sad that the Trib would publish Alonso' account without interviewing the refs or security at the game....Its easy to play the race card after the fact when you realize youre facing charges...

How far is it from Peters to Cal U cause I really dont know? And there is no bias here, I graduated from another East Suburban school about 40 yrs ago and I coach Ice hockey and my grandchild doesnt go to WH. Cal U is in Peters backyard compared to Woodland Hills. And nothing will match the Gateway- PH football playoff game played in 73 (Graduating class of 74) in Johnstown in a blizzard. Came home from college to go watch game (narrows down where I went to HS) and travel was horrible! Has to be biggest WPIAL scheduling blunder EVER!!!!!! Two East Suburban schools 10 minutes apart playing an hour away. Two and a half hours that nite! LOL! I think I have the year right. and SS, take it easy, have a beer.

Cal U about 45 minutes from PT

Sandman,
I'm right here. I'm not going to stick up for Shakim and try to say what he did was right, because it was awful. He let it go too far and he needs to be severely punished. But, I'm shocked at PT's coach's comments. As an adult, you should NEVER some out and say things like that about a student athlete that you really know nothing about. The things he said were completely classless. He should've taken the classy route. Also, if you're all going to sit here and tell me that PT is completely innocent, you're out of your mind. Yes, I'm sure things were being said both ways, and WH players are probably just as at fault, but you can't tell me PT was innocent. I bet PT's coach told them to rile up Shakim any way that they could, since he was the best player. Well, it sure worked! Shakim lost his cool and took it way too far. Also, please do not judge all of WH and say it's a bad district. It's a great district and a great school. People on here who are talking bad about WH are just classless and judgmental. Just because one player from a school loses his cool and punches somebody does not mean the entire district is terrible and full of bad kids. So, all I'm saying is that Shakim was absolutely wrong, PT was not innocent, their coach's comments were classless, and that you should not judge the WH school district because of one incident.

*come out and say things

Did the refs have control of the game (WH v Peters)
Obviously there was chippy play...
Apparently there was a lot of smack talk...
but wouldn't the refs try to control that before it escalates?
Someone mentioned Peters strategy was probably to frustrate Alonzo and get inside his head.. I'm sure it was.
Now there is a new article regarding Peters players making racist remarks inside their locker room...

From today's P-G:

Peters Township coach Gary Goga denied any of his players used racial slurs during the game. But after the game, a California security worker claimed he heard Peters Township players using racial slurs about Woodland Hills in the locker room.

Goga acknowledged what the security worker reported.
"I wasn't in the locker room after the game," Goga said. "It was told to me by the security worker who overheard it. He told our athletic director [Brian Geyer] and we addressed it with the team. It has already been addressed."
-------------------
But of course the Great Joe D and his band of merrymen has already passed judgement on the situation .. as in the comments above, and of course there were really no racial slurs and the WH kid needs to be flogged.

csf,
The interviews of the coaches right after the game... neither coach said there were racial slurs during the game.
Alonzo waited a day until he said there were racial slurs... nothing said by him after the game. So, I'm skeptical of what was said during the game vis a vie what this security guard overheard. That said, I still think the ref's need to have input as to what was happening during the game. If they heard anything or did any player complain to the ref about it.
Was there smack talk... I'm sure there was... to what degree it went... don't know.

I didnt realize that Peters was 45 minutes from Cal. Long trip for both teams, just stupid scheduling by WPIAL but have to sympathize a little with number of games to be scheduled. Have to agree with Joe D (cant believe I just wrote that) that there has to be input from refs and if its true that Alonzo was complaining of racial slurs to the officials all game and nothing was done about it, well that sheds a different light on things. It STILL DOES NOT justify the response from Alonzo!! and if it is true, then shame on the PT players and staff. But again, I wasnt there and until we here from the officials, its all heresay. Stll a bad situation all around. I still cant believe I agreed with something Joe D said.

Folks - I still can't believe that the game was played at Calu when there were plenty of high schools in between these two schools. I know somebody will mention scheduling. I don't buy it.

In this day and age of budget cuts, I'm damn sure that an AD will make sure his school is available for a game(s). It may not be much, but you get the 50/50 and the concession revenue. I know that happened at the playoff games held at NA. Boosters keep the money.

I don't think 45 min is far away..
I drive 30min just to get to soccer practice. lol
Don't know what the big deal is..
I would want my kid playing in a college venue... pretty cool... very nice arena.

Why wasn't the game forfeited in the first place...45 minutes late for the tip. Anyone know the rule on that???

I posted 40 miles from Wood Hills to Cal U

used Google and Yahoo - came up with 39.6 miles, 40.82 miles, 45.02 miles

that is well over an hour in a school bus


all excessive - especially for a #4 seed playing a first round game


I have no bias - not associated/affiliated with any Wood Hills player

but I am biased against any group of individuals that planned the location for this game - if they cannot do better they should step down

.

The whole thing with the racist comments is still very cloudy. We have no idea what was said during the game, only the players do.

But Alonzo even said Pritz wasn't who he was going after. Regardless of what was said, you can't just go punching a random player out there if he had nothing to do with it. Sad situation on both sides.

And in latest article PT coach backed of scholarship comments.

1st off, Alonzo said that he told the referee of the slurs dueing the game

2nd, against the law or not .. if I were coach or father of a kid that was called the N-word, I would give the kid my blessing to go out and beat the living crap out of him ... this is 2012, damnit.

3rd -- reference Jabaal Sheard who threw a guy through a glass door on the south side while cops were trying to restrain him .. he has just made the all-rookie NFL team

(brief change-up)

Anthony Dallier - this past weekend game against the Harvard JV:

33 points, 6 assists, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 blocked shot

.

csf,

Alonzo didn't even punch kid that alledgedly made comment. He sucker punched a kid that said nothing.

Guys were talking about it on 93.7 and had people that were there call in, all with the same story including a ref that said he was doing the next game. I dont know for sure if there was another game but anyways, it sounds bad for Alonzo. Dont know who is advising this kid but the first person he should be talking to is Pritz with a huge, sincere apology. It is a shame because up until this incident from all accounts; he's a pretty good kid. The whole incident is just a shame, looks bad for HS sports.

Yeah, WH produces many kids like this ...PUNKS in addition to the numerous NFL talent they produce ..I'm guessing more future punks than NFLers though "The whole district is pathetic" - from a teacher who works at the high school, I kid you not when we discussed this latest issue!!!!!!!!!!!