Bartram under scrutiny for extra game
THE PIAA allows its basketball teams to play 22 teams, not counting playoffs.
THE PIAA allows its basketball teams to play 22 teams, not counting playoffs.
The Public League begins postseason action Tuesday and John Bartram's record is 11-12.
Hmmmm . . .
Bartram traveled to Williamsport for game No. 23, which was played Saturday. The result, a 71-58 win for Williamsport, was not reported to the service that provides box scores/info to the Daily News and Inquirer, and that town's local paper listed Bartram's postgame record as 11-11 in the next day's edition.
"We're not going to nail them to the cross for this. They won't be put out of the playoffs," said Robert Coleman, the Pub's sports czar. "But because they were sleeping at the wheel, they'll be put on probation for next season."
James Brown, Bartram's coach, is also the athletic director. He told Coleman the Braves surpassed the limit because a December tournament included three games for each team, instead of what he'd expected to be two.
Coleman said Brown called his office Friday, looking for advice on how to handle the situation. Coleman said he did not receive word of that attempt until he called Brown on Sunday, having been informed of the rules violation by basketball chairman Ben Dubin. Coleman said Brown did not call his cellphone Friday.
"Since this violation was self-reported, we're giving them the benefit of the doubt," Coleman said. "We don't think Bartram was trying to be deceptive. I spoke about this with Dr. Lombardi [Bob, the PIAA's executive director]. He agrees that this is the correct way to handle it."
