ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 6, 1996 TAG: 9603060060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NORFOLK
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Police are trying to determine whether the outcome of a high school basketball game was fixed, but authorities said Tuesday they had no evidence of criminal activity.
``This sounds like some people who were upset that their team lost,'' said Larry Hill, a Norfolk police spokesman.
The Feb. 27 game was between two of the Tidewater area's top teams: Maury High School of Norfolk and Green Run of Virginia Beach. Green Run won the Eastern Region quarterfinal 69-57 in double overtime, ending Maury's season. Before the loss, Maury had been 23-0 and was the top-ranked Group AAA team in the region.
Norfolk schools Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. asked Police Chief Melvin C. High to look into the matter.
``The thought of this occurring at a high school basketball contest was absolutely incredible to me,'' Nichols said.
``I've had some conversations with the superintendent about some concerns he had in reference to a basketball game,'' High said. ``I don't know how serious it is or if there's anything to it.''
High said the inquiry was the first time his department has investigated allegations of a fixed sports contest.
Jack Baker, Maury's coach, declined to comment.
George Raiss, a spokesman for the Norfolk schools, said Nichols had talked to High ``and the matter has been turned over to the police.''
Accepting a bribe with the intent of losing a game or limiting the margin of victory is a felony punishable by one to 10 years in prison.
Ken Tilley, executive director of the Virginia High School League, said he couldn't remember any instances of fixed scholastic contests in his 11 years with the league, which governs extracurricular activities in the state's public schools. Tilley said the VHSL could suspend a school for such an offense or place it on probation, but the penalty would depend on the circumstances.
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