Column: For the Cooter community, a life lesson learned

“Creativity, critical thinking, and character growth are at the core of our college preparatory program.”

There are a lot of things that the student-athletes who competed in the recent MSHSAA Class 2 Quarterfinal 1 boy’s basketball game between Cooter High School and The Principia School can learn. However, no lesson should resonate more so than, in life: Watch what people do, not what they say.

The above quote is a statement by The Principia School in St. Louis, which boasts of being “The Best Christian High School in Missouri” on the home page of its website. However, both of those claims ring hollow throughout the Bootheel in light of what transpired on Friday.

The game was a thrilling, overtime contest in which Principia won by a margin of 46-43. However, as many competitive sporting events can be, it was not without drama.

“About the 3:49 mark in the game,” Cooter coach David Mathis explained in talking about the second quarter, a Cooter player scored a two-point basket. The points were initially put on the scoreboard at the Farmington Civic Center, and in the official scorebook, but then minutes later, the points were inexplicably taken off the scoreboard and out of the scorebook.

“Our scorebook keeper goes over,” Mathis explained, “and we throw a big fit. They wouldn’t change it. It turned into a big deal, and the referees said, ‘We’re not changing it.'”

In a game that ended up being tied at the end of regulation, it is obvious how critical the mistake was.

Mathis had his scorebook to present as evidence to the contrary, as well as Principia’s scorebook, and the scorebook from two media outlets, both of whom were televising the game.

“Four different scorebooks,” Mathis said, “and (the scorekeeper) refused to look at and refused to change.”

In hindsight, the human error, and we are all human, which is important to remember in this situation, was sorrowful. However, what has made the matter worse is that the “adults in the room” have now doubled and tripled down on the error.

The validity of Mathis’ protest has now been acknowledged by MSHSAA.

“The MSHSAA has reviewed the situation from last night’s game,” MSHSAA Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Rukstad stated in a release, “and it was clear a scoring mistake was made.”

BUT…

“There are rules in place to address errors during the game, and the final score was approved at the end of the game will stand.”

So the message from the MSHSAA to the student-athletes, coaches, and fans of the Cooter Wildcats: Sucks to be you.

It would be a travesty enough if the situation ended there, however, Principia, which remember, is “The Best Christian High School in Missouri,” has chosen to disregard the foundational aspects which it publicly boasts.

“Character” is “at the core” of Principia’s beliefs?

What level of character does it take to compete in the State Finals knowing full well that your team was awarded a quarterfinal game through an acknowledged mistake?

What life lesson does the Principia community take from cheering on its team this weekend, knowing full well how it advanced to Springfield?

What ethical lesson are the Principia players going to take from this situation and apply it in their future lives?

The truth of the matter is, Principia is being given, some would say God-given, what would become a national platform, to exhibit all the values that it touts publicly about possessing.

Can you imagine the degree of exaltation for Principia if it chose to relinquish its spot in the tournament to Cooter?

Principia has chosen instead, to exhibit its real principles.

Principia has a golden opportunity to make clear to the world: We are – at our core – about doing the right thing.

And yet, here we are.

Not only has Principia refused (at this point) to practice its self-professed values, but its leadership also won’t even discuss the matter.

“We do not have anything to share,” Principia Executive Communications Director Laurel Shaper Walters said. “MSHSAA is the one making the call.”

That is some conviction in your values.

For the Cooter community, this situation will serve as an invaluable lesson, because these are indisputable facts: Watch what people do, not what they say. And when they show you who they are, who they truly are, believe them.

Tom Davis is a freelance reporter for Rust Communications.