Mars’ Michael Carmody ‘remorseful, apologetic’ for WPIAL championship actions

By: Chris Harlan
Wednesday, March 4, 2020 | 5:39 PM

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Michael Carmody came to Green Tree on Wednesday asking for his two-game suspension to be reduced, but first he was there to apologize, said his father, Mars basketball coach Rob Carmody.

“Michael has apologized to his teammates. He has apologized to me as his coach. He has apologized to his mother, and he owed the WPIAL an apology for how he responded at the end of that basketball game,” Rob Carmody said.

Michael Carmody was disciplined for unsportsmanlike actions at the WPIAL Class 5A boys basketball championship last weekend at Petersen Events Center. The WPIAL board listened to Carmody’s appeal during a closed-door hearing at the league office Wednesday, but the senior’s availability for the state playoffs remains unclear.

The WPIAL board won’t officially notify Mars of its decision until Thursday.

“They were remorseful. They were apologetic,” WPIAL associate director Amy Scheuneman said of the testimony heard Wednesday from Michael Carmody and others. “They knew that it was not something that was to be condoned. They admitted that it was not the best decisions, as far as the end-of-game actions, and it was something they wished they could take back.”

The board took that into consideration, she said.

Carmody was called for a foul in the third quarter Friday after hitting Laurel Highlands freshman Rodney Gallagher with an elbow. After the game, the 6-foot-6, 290-pound Notre Dame football recruit also confronted an official and kicked a basketball toward Laurel Highlands players as they celebrated at midcourt.

Mars lost 52-51.

The Planets had missed a last-second layup, and Carmody wanted the official to call a foul.

“The narrative of the game should have been: What a great job by Laurel Highlands,” Rob Carmody said. “Unfortunately, it became how Michael acted. That’s unfortunate. It’s unfortunate that people have grabbed onto that negative story.”

The WPIAL sent a disciplinary letter to Mars administrators Monday, but the content of the letter was confidential. Heinauer confirmed Tuesday the WPIAL wanted Michael Carmody suspended two games.

If Mars doesn’t agree with the result of Wednesday’s WPIAL hearing, it can appeal to the PIAA.

The Planets (19-6) open the state playoffs Friday against Elizabethtown (19-9), the seventh-place team from District 3. They might do so without Carmody, who averages 19 points and 19.5 rebounds.

Carmody already was under WPIAL scrutiny for an incident that occurred in January. Shaler’s administration formally complained to the WPIAL about unsportsmanlike behavior. Scheuneman said that previous situation played a part in the WPIAL decision to discipline Carmody.

“The narrative that has been presented about Michael being some nasty (player) who wants to be out there hurting people is completely untrue,” Rob Carmody said. “That’s untrue. That’s patently false and a lie.”

Friday was the first time in four years Michael was called for an intentional foul, he added.

“The kid has played in 130-some varsity contests as a high school football player and high school basketball player, and has had exactly one intentional foul,” Rob Carmody said. “He’s never had a personal foul in football. Never a facemask. Never a late hit. He’s had one intentional foul.”

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Mars