
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 15, 1990                   TAG: 9003152724
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/1   EDITION: EVENING  
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WINNER, S.D.                                 LENGTH: Short

SCHOOL HALTS STRIP BASKETBALL

The School Board has decided to stop an annual practice drill in which male high school basketball players were required to take off one item of clothing for each missed free throw.

"After thorough consideration, the board believes such a practice is not appropriate for the Winner School System," the board said in a statement released after a closed-door meeting Tuesday.

Past and present athletes and community and college representatives were interviewed Tuesday night regarding the controversial practice, which was reported last week.

The board took no disciplinary action against basketball Coach Jim Drake.

"The board has investigated this matter, and has been advised that this practice is not unique to this school system, this state or basketball in general. We have been informed that other high schools have utilized this drill," the board said.

Drake has said the practice is similar to one he went through in college and that its goal is to instill team spirit and promote better free-throw shooting.

***Correction Published Mar. 22, 1990 in Evening edition*** CORRECTION In a March 15 story about use of an annual "strip basketball" practice session in a Winner, S.D., high school, The Associated Press erroneously reported that the coach had said the practice was similar to one he went through in college.

Coach Jim Drake said Wednesday that he had never said he had been part of such a practice while in college.

by CNB