Carmody

ADAMS TWP — Mars senior basketball standout Michael Carmody has been suspended one game by the WPIAL and is ineligible to play in the Planets' first-round PIAA Class 5A game against Elizabethtown Friday night.

The 6-foot-7, 290-pound center — who averaged 19 points and 19.6 rebounds per game and is the nation's leading high school rebounder — was originally suspended for two games stemming from his actions at the end of his team's 52-51 WPIAL title game loss to Laurel Highlands.

Carmody argued with an official and kicked the basketball.

The suspension was reduced to one game following an appeal hearing Wednesday in front of the WPIAL Board of Directors. Mars coach Rob Carmody, Michael's father, said there are no plans of appealing the decision to the state or filing an injunction. “We just wanted to be heard. The decision has been made and that's that,” Carmody said. “Four seconds won't define who he is. That's what this is about. Four seconds at the end of a game. Michael's emotions got the best of him and he apologized for that.”

Carmody will likely be replaced in the starting lineup Friday by Tasso Sfanos, a 5-8, 135-pound freshman.

“Obviously, we will have to make some adjustments,” Coach Carmody said. “Michael will be there to support his teammates. We will do everything we can to win this game and get through to Tuesday (second round of PIAA tourney).”

Carmody was not assessed any technical fouls by officials on the court for his actions after the WPIAL championship game. Footage of his actions were posted on social media and brought to the attention of the WPIAL office afterward.

Subsequently, the WPIAL office decided to impose the suspension.

“That's the world we live in now,” Coach Carmody said. “ Anything that happens is captured by a cell phone or video, gets posted. The officials on the floor recognized the emotion of the moment. They chose to walk off the court and let it go. I commend them for that.

“We as a family, myself as the coach, Michael himself ... We are not defending what he did. He made a mistake in judgment in the moment and made a bad decision. I just think their punishment is a little harsh. But we accept it and we'll move forward.”

Mars athletic director Scott Heinauer described the suspension as “ very difficult for the Carmody family, our school and this community.”

“Michael Carmody is a super kid, a role model in our school,” Heinauer continued. “The things he's called, what he has to put up with on social media is atrocious. People make these comments about him who have no idea who he even is as a person. It's ridiculous.”

Coach Carmody said his son apologized to the board Wednesday for taking attention away from the Laurel Highlands victory,

“I walked into that hearing with two pages of notes,” he said. “Michael had no notes. He spoke to the board for five or six minutes, strictly from the heart.

“In the Twitter world, this is being talked about and tweeted out more than Laurel Highlands, a No. 8 seed, winning its first championship since 1968, more than Butler natives Matt Clement and Ethan Morton winning a WPIAL title together, more than (North Catholic coach) Dave DeGregorio and his son winning a championship together,” Carmody said. “Those are great stories. This is being tweeted and talked about more. And that is a shame.”