Bountiful hoops players to attend sportsmanship hearing

MIDVALE — A confrontation between two Bountiful boys basketball players and an official will be the subject of a sportsmanship hearing on April 23.

Seniors Ben Aird and Jordan Maxwell, their coaches and administrators will be asked to attend the hearing the Executive Committee of the Utah High School Activities Association.

There was some discussion amongst the committee members that it may not be possible to discipline the two players involved in verbally berating an official at the conclusion of the 4A state championship game because they are seniors.

"The school needs to step up to the plate and handle those kids," said Region 9 representative Craig Hammer. "There is a lot of things you can do."

Hammer had to discipline seniors involved in a soccer incident last year, and said the school has a number of remedies available to it to deal with problematic behavior, even when the students in question are seniors.

The players and administrators will be asked to discuss what happened in the final seconds of the 4A championship game two weeks ago.

Bountiful guard Jordan Maxwell thought he was fouled as he attempted a last-second shot, but no foul was called.

Maxwell's teammate, Ben Aird responded to the no-call by yelling at the closest official, Greg Spencer. Maxwell then pushed Spencer and yelled at him as well.

Both boys and Bountiful's administrators sent letters of apology to the UHSAA.

Maxwell's one-page typed letter was addressed to Spencer and expressed deep sympathy and regret not only for yelling at the official but for pushing him as well.

"I am ashamed for the things I said and when I pushed you," he wrote. "Losing any game is hard. Losing a state championship game is even harder but it still gave me no right ... to act in the manner I did. The pain of losing goes deep, but the pain of losing my cool is one that is going to last much longer. If there is anything I could go back and change in my high school career it would be my actions following that game. ... I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am."

Aird offered a hand-written apology to Mr. Spencer.

"I am very sorry for the way I reacted in the state championship game," he said. "I shouldn't have yelled at you. I let my emotions get a hold of me, and for that I am very sorry. Thanks for all you do."

The Bountiful boys basketball program is already on one-year probation for undue-influence violations.

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