California high school basketball coach suspended 6 games for shoe-throwing incident

Keith Wilkinson, the JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) boys basketball head coach and a former USC men’s basketball player, received a six-game suspension for throwing a pair of shoes during the team’s game against Mater Dei last week, according …

Keith Wilkinson, the JSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) boys basketball head coach and a former USC men’s basketball player, received a six-game suspension for throwing a pair of shoes during the team’s game against Mater Dei last week, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Wilkinson was ejected from the game and had an automatic one-game suspension. The California Interscholastic Federation – Southern Section (CIF-SS) added five games to the suspension on Friday.

Wilkinson threw his shoe in protest of a non-foul-call on a layup attempt with 3:12 remaining in the game and Mater Dei leading by seven points. The Lions picked up its third loss of the season in the 78-67 defeat at the hands of Mater Dei, which was ranked No. 23 in the opening Super 25 national rankings released on Tuesday.

Here is a replay of the incident. After Wilkinson was ejected, he threw his other shoe at the ground and walked off the court.

Afterward, he said he did not regret throwing the shoe.

“My mentor Tim Floyd would have thrown a chair,” he said.” As mad as people think I am, that was more to have my kids back.”

In the press release announcing the decision on Friday, Wilkinson apologized.

“I accept full responsibility for my actions, and I apologize for letting my emotions to get the best of me,” he said.

JSerra principal Eric Stroupe said the school continues to support Wilkinson, complimenting his tenure as coach and calling his work as an administrative professional “highly exemplary and commendable.”

Since JSerra’s back-to-back losses to Mater Dei and St. John Bosco, the Lions have won two straight games against Orange Lutheran and Santa Margarita. The team is 17-3 on the season as of Jan. 13.

The suspension will last through the Jan. 24 rematch against Mater Dei, and Wilkinson will be able to return Jan. 26 against Orange Lutheran.

High school coach, former USC player ejected after throwing shoe in protest of non-call

Keith Wilkinson, the JSerra head coach and former USC player, threw his shoe in protest of a non-call during the team’s loss to Mater Dei.

JSerra Catholic High School (Calif.) boys basketball head coach Keith Wilkinson, a former USC player, was ejected from the team’s game against Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) after throwing a shoe in protest of a non-call.

With 3:12 remaining in the game, JSerra got a steal and came up the court for a fast-break opportunity. The player went up for a layup and drew contact from the defender. The replay shows the defender reaching for the ball, and the video tweeted by Orange County Register’s Dan Albano looks like he may have made contact with the arm.

The referee did not call a foul, to which Wilkinson was furious. Mater Dei led 72-65 at the time.

The referees immediately blew the whistle, and Wilkinson began arguing. He was ejected and threw his other shoe directly at the ground.

It was an important regular-season game for JSerra against Trinity League rival Mater Dei. JSerra started the season 15-1 before entering league play and falling to St. John Bosco 67-51.

On Friday, the Lions fell 78-67 against Mater Dei, losing its third game of the season, while the Monarchs improved their record to 16-1. They are now 17-1 after beating St. John Bosco on Saturday.

Wilkinson, who played at USC from 2005-2009, told the OC Register that he does not regret the incident, which came in a physical game.

“My mentor Tim Floyd would have thrown a chair,” he said.” As mad as people think I am, that was more to have my kids back.”

“I obviously got very frustrated with the foul call situation,” he added. “I threw my shoes because I figured it won’t cost me as much as a chair. If I threw a chair, and the chair dented the wood here, they would probably charge me and sue me.”

“It’s just not fair to our kids,” he added. “I’m tired of the whistle being so against us in these games, especially against Mater Dei — at home and here.”

Wilkinson is suspended for one game, according to the OC Register.

California HS baseball teams decline spots in Regional Playoffs

Multiple high school baseball teams in California are declining their spots in the CIF Southern California Regional playoffs.

Multiple high school baseball teams in California are declining their spots in the CIF Southern California Regional playoffs despite qualifying. JSerra, Canyon and Yorba Linda have all decided not to participate in the tournament, which begins one week from today and runs through June 3.

According to Steve Fryer at the Orange County Register, the head coach at JSerra, Brett Kay says that his players made the decision and he supports it.

“There’s only one dogpile… That’s the way the seniors want to finish it and I told them, ‘I support you guys’… The seniors are already out of school and the underclassmen have finals this week. They all said there is no better way to go out.”

Kay also said he wants to spend more time with his family.

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