H.S. Protest pass
 

TRAFALGAR, Ind. -- A teen was kicked off his high school basketball team after throwing a pass that officials say was doubly out of bounds.

During a home game Tuesday, Indian Creek High School's Justin Ray tossed the game ball to star teammate J.R. Angle, who was on the bench, officials said.

Officials said Ray accepted money from adults to throw the pass, which allegedly was intended to insult head coach Larry Angle, who is J.R.'s father.

School officials said the pass was a protest against something Larry Angle often says to his players: Throw the ball to J.R.

"I think the intent was to send a message to the coach that he disagreed with some of the coaching philosophy," Principal Bob Duke told RTV6's Ben Morriston Friday.

Officials said they were tipped that Ray was paid.

"He did accept actually $45 in cash sometime after the basketball game," Superintendent Mike Thompson said. "That came from at least ... two adults through a girlfriend situation."


Thompson said the pass was "a shameful, despicable thing."

"It really just makes us sick at our stomach," Thompson said.

Ray apologized to the team and the coaches, Duke said.

Indian Creek lost the game against Greenwood, 74-50. Indian Creek's record fell to 4-15.

J.R. Angle, a senior, is Indian Creek's all-time leading scorer.
Copyright 2004


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If a team is 4-15, do they really need to focus on one individual player so much??

I don't like purposely tanking a pass, but I appreciate the balls of his protest.

Unless he broke the kid's nose, it wasn't worth it.

or if he didnt accept money... If there was no money involved... that'd be awesome :D I hate stuck up asses who favor their undeserving children (I don't care how good "J.R." is... you dont need to stress a HS team to focus on one player..

Taking the money makes this kid look like a tool. If he did it as a protest, he should have just done it without cash involved.

What a strange story

exactly. If he had done it strictly to protest and then walked off the court people would be calling him a hero. Taking the money though just makes him a ..... tool.

from the story it sounds like the parents have more of a problem with the coach than the players. i really have a problem with parents like that. if they had a problem with the coach then they should have gone to the AD.