English basketball woes deepen

Lynn English principal Andy Fila was suspended for a week today by school superintendent Catherine Latham for his role in the recruiting scandal that has also resulted in the suspension of the school’s boys basketball coach through the midway point of next season; and an assistant coach indefinitely.
?The superintendent and I met today, and she considers me responsible for everything that happens at the school,” Fila said.”
Fila does not plan to appeal the suspension, which begins tomorrow.
?I just want to move on,” he said. “I don?t want to distract the kids.”
The Bulldogs also got some more bad news today, as the MIAA has deemed star guard Ryan Woumn ineligible for tomorrow night?s Division 1 North semifinal game against St. John?s Prep.
Woumn was given two rapid-fire technicals in Friday night?s quarterfinal win over Lexington ? the first for unsportsmanlike conduct; the second for interfering with a ball during an inbounds pass.
According to MIAA spokesman Paul Wetzel, the official who handed out the second technical did not follow the entire rule. The MIAA plays under federation rules, and when a player reaches across the boundary line and interferes, the rules call for two free throws and a retention of the ball.
However, Wetzel said, the second part of the rule stipulates that a player who has already received a technical during the game incurs a second, and is subsequently disqualified for that contest and the next one as well.
?It doesn?t matter if it?s the regular season or the tournament,” Wetzel said.
?He should not have been allowed to continue in the Lexington game,” Wetzel said, “but there isn?t much we can do about that now.
?But,” he said, “even if a referee doesn?t give proper notification (of ejection) the individual is still bound by the suspension.”
?(Woumn) probably should have been put out of the game Friday,” Fila said.
Regarding his issue, Latham said last Friday she considered Fila responsible for what happened, because, as principal, he is accountable for anything that happens there.
Head coach Buzzy Barton has been suspended through the halfway point of next season due to the recruiting issue, which involves the attempt on the part of English to obtain a waiver for East Boston transfer Cory McMillan.
East Boston headmaster Michael Rubin charged that the English coaching staff approached McMillan and lured him to Lynn while Fila says McMillan?s family sought the school out.
The assistant coach who allegedly brokered the transfer ? Simmie Anderson ? has been suspended by the MIAA from coaching in any high school sport indefinitely. Fila said the school will appeal both decisions, though he admits it?s probably too late to do anything about Barton?s status for the rest of the this year?s tournament.
?I think,” he said, “that (Latham) punishing me will probably help their cause,” he said.