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Rocky Boy-Malta boys basketball finish marred by technicals, walk-off

Rocky Boy-Malta boys basketball finish
Posted at 3:35 PM, Feb 03, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-04 12:04:03-05

MALTA — UPDATE (9:43 P.M.): Rocky Boy athletic director Wade Colliflower posted the following message on Facebook Wednesday evening, shared here with permission:

Last night Rocky Boy traveled to Malta to play our second non-conference game. During the game there was some calls that we questioned, we felt that some of these calls were inaccurate. Because of the inconsistency and inaccuracies of the officiating during the fourth quarter it became apparent that safety was not an issue for the officials. To the point where we felt our player got fouled but was called for a technical instead. We have reviewed the film and feel that I made the right decision to remove our team before someone was seriously hurt. If I had to do it again, I would protect our players 100% of the time regardless of any punishment.There is also a rumor about players and fans being spit on. This is totally untrue, the fan base for Malta didn’t say anything degrading or insulting at all. Their fans were amazing.

After a meeting with administration at Rocky Boy, Colliflower said that he and coach Demontiney will be serving a self-imposed one-game suspension to avoid repercussions for the entire team. Per MHSA rules, Ben Krebs is also in line for a one-game suspension for receiving two technical fouls, but Rocky Boy has sent an appeal to the MHSA based on video of the calls in question.

ORIGINAL REPORT: Tuesday night’s boys basketball game between Rocky Boy and Malta was abruptly called off with 4:32 remaining in the game and the Mustangs leading 62-47 after the Stars walked off the court in response to multiple technical foul calls.

Messages left with Rocky Boy coach Adam DeMontiney and Malta coach David Costin were not immediately returned, but MTN Sports has reviewed a replay of the game and spoken to people who were in attendance.

The game was chippy and physical throughout with players and coaches on both sides taking issue with several calls, including a handful of technical fouls. Rocky Boy junior Ben Crebs was called for a technical foul after falling to the ground on a 3-point shot following contact from a Malta defender.

Crebs had already been called for a technical foul in the first quarter for slapping the backboard on a block attempt, so he was ejected from the game.

Coach Demontiney objected to the call, and the official nearest to the play can audibly be heard saying, “He can’t flop like that,” to the Rocky Boy bench. Demontiney argued the call and was hit with a technical as well and ejected from the game.

At that point, the remaining Rocky Boy coaching staff pulled the Stars off the court and the game was called off, with Malta earning the win.

When contacted by MTN Sports, Mark Beckman of the Montana High School Association said he was aware of the situation and is gathering information from both schools.

Watch the video above to view the sequence of events that eventually boiled over and led to the game ending.