Two Tennessee Teams Suspended After Attempting to Purposively Lose the Same Game

In probably the worst display of sportsmanship possible, both Riverdale and Smyrna’s high school girls teams attempted to intentionally lose their seventh place consolation game to ensure a easier playoff route. According to Daily News Journal, the team who lost this game would be placed in the opposite side of the Region 4-AAA bracket: meaning they would not have to face the “defending state and national champion Blackman” until the finals.

To ensure the loss, Riverdale intentionally missed free throws, Smyrna attempted to score on their own net and both teams committed three second violations purposively. Some of these hijinks were even caught on camera and posted to Twitter.

In the end, Smyrna failed to lose, beating Riverdale 55-29. But afterwards, the referees filed a report with the TSSAA: and TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress then proceeded to ban the two teams from the playoffs, fined both $1,500 and placed them on probation until the end of the 2015-16 season.

And it is still possible for further penalties to be handed down to the two coaches who orchestrated this horrible showing.