HAZELWOOD: Finding a teaching moment

Before the question could be finished, Nick Dimacchia smiled. The head girls basketball coach at Clearview High School in Lorain already knew the answer — and what it meant. "The two points end up being a big deal," Dimacchia said. "But you know what? That kid deserved it." Prior to Tuesday's non-conference game at Norwalk, Dimacchia reached out to Truckers head coach Brock Manlet. He wanted to know what his team could do to help make it possible for senior Liv Ward to start the game and score an uncontested layup. Dispensing with the traditional opening tip-off, the basketball was immediately given to Ward, who put in a point-blank shot for two points. She was immediately substituted out and changed back into street clothes, wearing sunglasses and a hoodie pulled over her head. By now almost everyone knows the story. Ward suffered a severe concussion after being pulled down hard to the floor by her hair during a Feb. 8 game at Bellevue. As a result, she is expected to miss the final games of her high school basketball career — unless Norwalk (9-11) can pull an upset or two in the sectional tournament next week. The story has made national news from coast to coast, and it certainly hasn't been a positive one to talk or write about. Tuesday' game-opening sequence by Dimacchia and his Clearview team was commendable. But I want to focus on the decision behind that generous gesture. Both Manlet and NHS athletic director Josh Schlotterer offered to give the two points back. In other words, for allowing Ward to score, Norwalk wanted to return the favor and give the Clippers two "free points" at the other end. That way, everything would be even and the game plays on. But Dimacchia refused. He was steadfast. Between Manlet and Schlotterer, the two offered no less than three times, asking Dimacchia if he really wanted to decline. "A classy move, first of all, to even let us do it," Manlet said. "Then, to not take the two points, I've never heard a coach do that." Why this is such a big deal: the Clippers lost the game, 37-33. They let a five-point lead slip away in the final three minutes. Clearview was down, 34-33, with less than 90 seconds on the clock. Norwalk's Kylie Moser missed a shot attempt, giving the Clippers a chance at a rebound that was secured by the Truckers' Brooklyn Davis with 57.9 seconds left and a trip to the free-throw stripe. Davis made two shots to push the score to 36-33. The Clippers had 38 seconds for a potential game-tying 3-pointer that was ultimately unsuccessful in the loss. But what if Dimacchia had accepted the two points that had been offered by Manlet and Schlotterer? In that instance, everything regarding the game and clock situation completely changes. His team, at 11-9 overall, could have used a victory to help ensure a winning season. The Clippers had a legitimate chance to win the game without the two points. While watching it play out, Schlotterer told me he felt terrible about it. The gesture was obviously nice and well-received, but everyone also wants a fair, competitive game. And yet Dimacchia heard none of it. "I feel bad about what happened and that her (Ward) season and career ended," Dimacchia said. "I think it was a nice tribute to her on Senior Night. I wasn't concerned about anyone giving us points back. It was about her." At that point, Dimacchia doubled down on the situation. "I know what the score was — but those two points didn't make or break us," he said. "We made or broke us. We didn't capitalize on the opportunities we had, and at the end of the day, that's what caused us to lose." Another unique aspect to all of this is that prior to Tuesday, the two schools and coaching staffs had no relationship. They were strangers. Norwalk has rarely competed against Clearview in any sport — including never before in girls basketball. I find that telling, and I wanted to find out more about Dimacchia. Not long after mentioning his generosity on social media, comments started flowing in. Vermilion girls basketball head coach Jason Sockel recently took the Sailors to Norwalk twice to face both the Truckers and St. Paul. Sockel graduated from Lorain Catholic in 2000 and has known Dimacchia and his brother, Tony, (assistant coach) for 24 years. "Most coaches want to see their own players succeed and be appropriately recognized, whether they play for him or another team," Sockel said. "I'm sure when he heard Olivia's injury will keep her out that he didn't even think twice about what he did. "Nick is driven to do work that derives from a strong moral compass to help people who may not be able to stand up for themselves," he added. "What he did is more proof about the kind of coach and person I've always known him to be." When reached Wednesday morning, Clearview athletic director and head football coach Mike Collier said he was pleased to hear about the gesture — but also seemed unsurprised by it. "Coach Dimacchia is as competitive as they come," Collier said. "But he obviously saw this as an opportunity to do the right thing and show our student-athletes the importance of sportsmanship." It's certainly been a rough few days for those involved. Fellow Truckers senior Skylarr Story said not having Ward on the floor one final time was tough. She described the last several days as "very stressful." Manlet called the situation chaotic, and his phone hasn't stopped with notifications and people contacting him wanting him to comment. "The only thing I'm going to say about it is I'm heartbroken for Liv to not be able to play a full game in her last game here, and really be done for the season," Manlet said. "It's unfortunate that it happened, and my heart just goes out to her." But most everyone Tuesday night also spoke of making the best of the situation, which led me back to something Collier said on Wednesday. "We are all very competitive and want to win, but the lessons we teach and learn through school athletics are such a valuable part of the high-school experience," he said. For me, here is the biggest takeaway: whenever a negative situation like this one occurs, what is the one thing we eventually try to find? As a parent, what is it we always go back to? Find the teaching moment. Nick Dimacchia did that on Tuesday night. A complete stranger to Norwalk reminded so many of us what was important, and led to a nice exchange between him and Ward on Twitter after the game. In the end, everyone involved had a more positive outlook than they did beforehand. "For him to do that, we'll never be able to say 'thank you' enough," Manlet said. "Just a very classy move that we'll never forget."