PAYSON, Utah - (ABC 4 News) - What are Payson High School officials doing about a play caught on tape?
The video shows Payson High School basketball Player, # 44, knee Timpanogos player AJ Coombs in the groin. Whether it was intentional is in question, but Matthew Timm, after seeing the video, thinks it was on purpose.
Matthew Timm, Payson: "When you're going to run, you usually bring your knee up and out in front of you, and this kid brought his knee up," Matthew explains.
The Payson player apologized to Coombs after the game, telling him he didn't mean it.
"He made a bad choice, it happens to all of us," Coombs said about the incident.
But is that enough?
"As obvious and as blatant as that was, I'd say that's probably insufficient," said Timm.
No one at Payson High would tell me what was being done. Nebo School District Spokesperson Lana Hisky said the school is investigating, and appropriate action would be taken. She said that the district strives to teach high principles and good sportsmanship.
Timm thinks whether some might think the play is an accident, doesn't even matter.
"I had done so in a game, unintentionally kneed someone and hurt them pretty bad, and I got suspended for 2 games."
"For an accident?" asked ABC 4's Lauren Johnson.
"For an accident, yeah, so that was pretty obviously intentional, so he should probably be out for 3 or 4 games," said Timm.
Payson resident Don Dixon just hopes it's properly addressed.
"I think the players should have confidence they can play sports without feeling assaulted," said Dixon.
