# Is it ok to run up a score to 161-2? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 19, 2015, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275 "2015-01-19T11:41:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/81 "2015-01-20T02:39:40Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > I’d be insulted if I were losing and the other team went easy on me. I’d want to know that if I managed to score a single point, I did it against their best attempts to stop me. Precisely. I guarantee if the coach had taken some of the suggestion in this thread and made it obvious he was preventing scoring, we’d have an article about how insulting this coach was to his inferiors. > [@Peremensoe](#): > > For girls’ HS basketball, 52 points. 🆒 And how, exactly, did you come up with this number? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/82 "2015-01-20T03:55:11Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > There were six fouls. Their lack of discipline is sickening. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/83 "2015-01-20T04:07:22Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > If the people in charge of the league want it to be against the rules to play to the best of your ability beyond a certain point, they need to put it in writing at what point playing the damn game will earn you a suspension. I don’t have a problem with them having a mercy rule stating that once you are winning by fifty points the game is over, or whatever, but it is absolute bullshit to see a team unilaterally reduce their scoring by 40% in the second half and arbitrarily declare that they didn’t reduce their scoring _enough_. The entire concept of “running up the score” is idiotic. You’re basically telling players to make it look like they’re playing without actually playing. What’s the point? If the losing coach really doesn’t want to get buried, the burden should be on him to concede the game, not on the winning coach to figure out convoluted ways to have his team pretend to play. Sometimes competitors are mismatched. That’s life. It’s just a game. It’s not like it really matters. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/84 "2015-01-20T04:17:54Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > The entire concept of “running up the score” is idiotic. You’re basically telling players to make it look like they’re playing without actually playing. You’re right, idiotically running up the score against a vastly inferior opponent isn’t actually playing. Oh wait… No, again, the point of tilting the field away from the better team is to _make_ them play. To make it a little more of an athletic challenge, if not a competitive one. > [@Acsenray](#): > > It’s just a game. It’s not like it really matters. The _outcome_ doesn’t matter, the _experience_ can. If it doesn’t… what’s the point? ---
**Author:** ![chicagowhitesox1173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@chicagowhitesox1173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicagowhitesox1173)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/85 "2015-01-20T04:30:54Z")
The coach who lost 162-2 should be fired. I think it’s horrible that a team ran up a score like that, but, this losing coach clearly does not know what he’s doing. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/86 "2015-01-20T04:45:15Z")
> [@chicagowhitesox1173](#): > > The coach who lost 162-2 should be fired. I think it’s horrible that a team ran up a score like that, but, this losing coach clearly does not know what he’s doing. Any coach has to work with the available talent. Even if non-existent. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/87 "2015-01-20T04:45:56Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > You’re right, idiotically running up the score against a vastly inferior opponent isn’t actually playing. The sole purpose of a sporting event is to do your best to score points within the rules. If you’re not doing that, there’s no point in being on the court. If it’s that awful to score points against an inferior opponent, then you should just stop playing. Make a rule that some particular score or gap in the score automatically ends the game. > [@](#): > > The _outcome_ doesn’t matter, the _experience_ can. If it doesn’t… what’s the point? We play games precisely because they don’t matter. That’s the point of recreation. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/88 "2015-01-20T05:05:34Z")
I would have to watch the game to be sure, but you can’t tell me that there was any type of let up when a team puts up 162 points in a girls high school game. It is instructive that the team was still shooting 3 point shots in the second half, with one player making 8 of 9. When you are up 100 points, maybe it is time to stop shooting 3s? ---
**Author:** ![chicagowhitesox1173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@chicagowhitesox1173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicagowhitesox1173)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/89 "2015-01-20T05:29:40Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Any coach has to work with the available talent. Even if non-existent. I don’t know the whole story and again I think it’s ridiculous that a coach would run up a score like that, but the losing coach could have at least used this game as a learning experiance. What the score tells me is that these losing girls played with no heart and probably gave up before the game even started. I just think this losing coach could have at least told his girls to put more effort in. Vince Lombardi once coached a basketball season without knowing a single thing about the sport, he ended up winning a championship. Granted Lombardi is a legend but this losing coach has no business whatsoever coaching. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/90 "2015-01-20T07:33:48Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > You mean? > > - stop full court defense > - rotate in players who were not starters > > #1 & 2, the coach in question did this. Yeah, after halftime. The score at half was 104-1. Think maybe he could’ve done those a bit earlier? ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/91 "2015-01-20T07:44:24Z")
1. From what I can gather, this wasn’t a “league” or “conference” game where you might assume because of school sizes, maybe the game might have been more even. If that is the case, who is the moron responsible for matching these two teams up? UNLESS . . . . they were otherwise obligated, doesn’t the losing team administration have a responsibility to either a)NOT schedule the game against an obviously superior opponent or b)upon getting wind of the mis-matchup ahead of time, perhaps offer a forfeit or a scrimmage so the better team could still get their practice in? 1. If the girls were of the same general age group, you mean to tell me as coach of the losing team you couldn’t get more than 2 points? Have you ever heard of drawing fouls??? I could have blindfolded my team and at least found a way to get 10 points. Who is this coach, a total dope??? I don’t think the winning teams coach should be suspended. The losing coach should be fired, and their basketball program seriously looked at in terms of who they play in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/92 "2015-01-20T07:57:36Z")
What the hell kind of a team can only get 2 points? I’ve been thinking about this. I only played basketball when I had to, in gym, in 7th grade, which was 50 years ago, and I guarantee you that if I could put a team of my former 7th-grade teammates together, a bunch of old ladies basically, we could score more than 2 point off of practically anybody. We couldn’t WIN, but we could score more than 2 points. Maybe it would be 162 to 20, but it would be more than 2. That is ridiculous. Who were these people? What the hell was their problem? Yes, their coach should definitely be fired. I cannot believe the other coach was suspended. It sounds like he knows what he’s doing, and the losing coach just completely doesn’t. A couple of years ago my granddaughter was playing on a team that had just been formed and didn’t play well together at all, and they played a much better team. The score was uneven, but it was like 16 points uneven. They acknowledged that they were playing terrible (“like grandmothers”) and not working as a team, and yet the gap was not all that big. I just don’t even get it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/93 "2015-01-20T07:59:08Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > I don’t think the winning teams coach should be suspended. The losing coach should be fired, and their basketball program seriously looked at in terms of who they play in the future. [MaxPreps page for Bloomington.](http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/bloomington-bruins-%28bloomington,ca%29/girls-basketball/home.htm) Last 5 seasons 0-15 (current) 0-14 1-15 0-14 3-13 I’d say it’s an ongoing problem. It might be there’s little interest in basketball. They do play girls soccer in the winter. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/94 "2015-01-20T08:09:34Z")
Looked at the girls soccer team. 7-4-1 16-4-2 17-2-0 11-2-6 13-5-3 ---
**Author:** ![chicagowhitesox1173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@chicagowhitesox1173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicagowhitesox1173)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/95 "2015-01-20T09:08:55Z")
The last two games, they lost 48-8 and 49-8. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/96 "2015-01-20T10:41:42Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > … soooo… the Harlem Globetrotters should stop making the other teams look like they’re stuck to the floor? > . A little history. You mention the Harlem Globetrotters. Years ago when they were just a normal traveling basketball team they were winning a game by 100-1. The audience was bored. So to keep interest they started doing some funny antics and the audience LOVED it. They laughed and quickly the Globetrotters realized they were onto something. From then on once they knew they had a game in the bag they developed some funny routines to keep everything interesting and thats why they are what they are today. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/97 "2015-01-20T10:53:07Z")
Side point - In college football many Division 1 teams, for the first game of the season, actually PAY what they think is an inferior opponent Division 2 team to come down and play so they can rack up a big score in front of a home crowd. Also gives them a chance to play their second string. However it doesnt always work out that way. Once KU had brought down North Dakota and ND ended up winning. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/98 "2015-01-20T12:37:53Z")
I don’t think there’s much that the inferior team could offer in terms of prepping the stronger team for their tougher games. Running a full court press against them was probably too easy and didn’t offer enough of a challenge to help them hone the press. The better team should have put the scrubs in early, stopped the press, and took some air out of the ball (not like the Patriots, just take their time to shoot). Don’t know if they had a shot clock or not (high schools in my state don’t) but if they did, practice milking the clock to the max. There’s no excuse for running up the score like that, they should be ashamed of themselves. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/99 "2015-01-20T12:38:18Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > After pulling ahead by 50 points to zero, the coach should have told his team to “accidently” miss a few blocks, etc, and let the other team score a dozen points. Because lying to people by your actions is sooo ethical. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275/100 "2015-01-20T12:41:51Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > No, because quitting when you are losing is being a poor sport–it’s “Now that I am losing, I will take my ball and go home. I only want to play if I win”. It needs to be the winning team that offers the other team the option. Not a chess player, I take it - there’s a point _when you know you’ve lost_ where it is completely honourable to say “I resign” rather than drag out the drubbing for another 5 minutes. What _isn’t_ honourable in chess is _deliberately_ losing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-run-up-a-score-to-161-2/710275.md?page=6)