Sportmanship and leadership shown by Ravens' coach

Smith Middle School's eighth-grade basketball team led by 1 point with 50 seconds in the game when Anthony MS Coach TJ Dillon called timeout so the Smith MS coach could tend to an injured player.

A recent act of sportsmanship by a middle school basketball coach did not go unnoticed by basketball mom and Cypress Ranch HS teacher Melody McAfoose.


As Smith MS’ eighth-grade boys’ team led Anthony MS by one point late in the fourth quarter of a tournament game at Goodson MS on Jan. 23, a Smith MS player went down with injury.


“Because we did not have possession of the ball, our coach could not call timeout,” shared McAfoose, a Smith MS parent. “[Anthony’s] coach had an opportunity in a very close game to take advantage of a 5-on-4 situation. He did not.”


Instead, Anthony Coach TJ Dillon called a timeout so Smith’s coach could tend to the injured athlete.


Smith went on to win the game, but McAfoose said that gesture, along with the positive sportsmanship of Anthony’s players, made the biggest impact that day.


“Throughout the game, the boys listened and did exactly what the coach asked them to do every time. It was very obvious they are a well-coached team and very well-disciplined,” McAfoose said. “After the game, as I was walking out the door to the parking lot, two of the Anthony players held the door open for me. You don't see these qualities as often these days, and [Anthony] should be proud of the way the coach and his players represented [the] school, their team and themselves.”


Anthony MS Principal Sherma Duck said she was proud of Coach Dillon’s and the Ravens’ sportsmanship.


“We believe in developing character first, and the coaches are instrumental in setting this tone for us,” Duck said.