Grand Ledge Basketball Coach Defends Team’s Postgame Handshake After Loss to Lansing Everett

Grand Ledge boys basketball endured its first defeat of the season on Friday when visiting Lansing Everett beat the Comets 82-78 in overtime.

That was a big enough story in and of itself. But after the game, some controversy ensued.

As the final buzzer sounded, Everett players and fans rushed the Grand Ledge court to celebrate. Grand Ledge's players left the court, in what could be interpreted as an act of poor sportsmanship.

However, the Comets reemerged from their locker room moments later to shake hands with the Vikings after their celebration.

Grand Ledge head coach Scott Lewis took offense to WVFN play-by-play announcer Nick Chase's characterization of the Comets' postgame behavior as "classless." Lewis said his team left the court due to safety concerns as the packed gym began to empty out, with dozens already on the playing surface. Lewis also mentioned that Everett's own coaching staff motioned to Grand Ledge players and coaches to leave the court and not worry about the handshake, due to the hectic celebration on the floor.

You can see the Everett staff waving the Comets off the court at the :15 mark of this video:

What do you think? Just part of the chaos following the end of a classic Lansing-area high school basketball game? Or were the Comets being poor sports?