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Sunday, March 09, 2003 Page: 1C
WILKES-BARRE – GAR basketball coach Paul Brown said the decision to play
Howard Mapp and Nick Sharpe in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs
against York Catholic on Saturday afternoon wasn’t a difficult one to make.
The Grenadier seniors might be charged regarding a one-vehicle crash on
March 1. Charges of underage drinking for both players are pending, according
to Forty Fort police officer Brian Eovitch. Mapp also will be charged with
driving under the influence, Eovitch said.
Brown didn’t start the players against the Fighting Irish, but Mapp and
Sharpe entered the game when teammate Chris Shovlin went to the foul line for
a pair of free throws with 1:46 remaining in the first quarter.
GAR administrators and Wilkes-Barre Area School District officials placed
the decision on whether to play the two players directly on Brown’s shoulders,
the Grenadier coach said.
“It was the easiest decision I ever made in my life. If they’re going to
let me make that decision, that’s the decision I’m going to make. (Mapp and
Sharpe) did not break any rules we have as a team.”
Mapp scored four points in the game, and Sharpe was held scoreless. GAR
players remained in the locker room for more than 20 minutes after the game
and did not speak to reporters.
Talking to reporters after his team’s 63-57 overtime loss against York
Catholic, Brown said he shouldn’t be held responsible for the action of his
players when they’re not under his supervision.
“When I’m with them in the gym, they’re super. When I’m with them on buses,
they’re super. Anything that happens when they’re under my supervision, I will
take care of.
“Things that happen when they’re not under my supervision, who’s supposed
to take control of that? I don’t think I’m supposed to take care of what kids
are doing at night.”
– Dave Konopki