forfeit

By John Baracani

From the opening tip-off, the Lady Apaches basketball season has been one of ups and downs and surprises around every turn.

One of the more surprising and unexpected came in a January 29 contest in a home game against Parkland, a game that featured no points for the visiting Parkland, and no points by the nation’s leading scorer, Jaci Bice, or any other member of the Lady Apaches.

With IVCC leading 38-30 with 16:15 remaining in the game, Parkland coach Tim Wulf, after being warned and then given a technical foul, received a second technical call from referee Mike Zogg.

Instead of leaving, as rules state, Wulf charged onto the court and proceeded to get face to face with Zogg, lividly showing his disapproval of the call. He was informed that he had 30 seconds to leave, after which the game would be forfeited.

Wulf did not leave within the 30 second time span and IVCC picked up a 2-0 victory.

According to IVCC Athletic Director Mike Riley, the Parkland coach had the same officials in a game a few days earlier, and bad blood existed from that game.

"Unfortunately for him, he got the same officials he had a problem with," Riley said. "The frustration carried over. The officials were quality, veteran officials. They have officiated for a long time."

This was the second time in his coaching career that Lady Apaches Head Coach Steve Crick has seen a game he was involved in result in a forfeit.

"I have seen games called because they were too physical," he said. "But that was the first time I’ve ever seen it under those circumstances."

Crick served as an assistant coach in a game in Panama City, Florida in which the game was called due to a fear of players being injured in an overly physical game.

While the Lady Apache coach was no stranger to seeing a forfeited game, one player, in particular, was surprised by the outcome of the contest.

"I felt that it wasn't worth the time and effort for the team to travel the distance," said Freshman Guard Jamie Kromm. "It was a new experience for us."

The Jan. 29 game was the second played between the two schools this season. On December 7 Parkland prevailed 76-59 in a game that Crick described as routine.

"They were just a lot better that night, they had one player we couldn’t stop and we made some adjustments against them the next time we played them and held her down," he said.

Crick said that Wulf was upset with the officiating, as well as the fact that his club was losing and not playing well against a team it had beaten quite convincingly over a month earlier.

"It would have been a close game," Crick said. "I’m sure he regretted it once it was over. Sometimes your emotions get the best of you."

Parkland coach Tim Wulf could not be reached for comment on this story.

Back to Apache home page