One of the hot topics of conversation around Maine high school basketball about two-thirds through the regular season was the lopsided scores put up by the Oceanside High School Mariners boys’ team against some of their weaker opponents.

After the Rockland team defeated the winless Belfast Lions, 125-38, the Maine Principals’ Association was alerted. Earlier in the season, the Mariners had defeated the Morse Shipbuilders 105-49 and the Leavitt Hornets 114-42.

I have nothing against teams having good players and I salute the coaches who have worked hard to build their players’ skills, but I do have a problem with coaches who don’t recognize when a game is won by allowing their team to continue to light up the scoreboard.

As a former high school basketball coach, I learned my lesson early about dominating a team. I was coaching the Seahawk j.v. boys and we went on to defeat (a school I don’t care to mention) 90-20, on the road. Yes, the opponent couldn’t mount an offense and we could hardly miss a shot, but I did take off the full-court pressure at the half. The opposing coach was not happy – he even came into our locker room looking to pick a fight with me. And their fans let us know they were not happy as we scrambled to get on the bus.

Not that I went on to have a stellar coaching career at BRHS, but there were times when I did sit my starters when I knew the game was won.

I would have to look back at the scores when Coach I.J. Pinkham’s teams of 2000 and 2001 dominated the Mountain Valley Conference – but I don’t think he allowed his teams to run up the scores like Oceanside has.

Other teams in the past have put up gaudy scores against their not-so-talented foes, but hopefully the recent situation will sink in to coaches when they have a standout team to put on the court.

Lay off the accelerator. Win and lose with dignity. Be a good sport.