Houston Yates, the defending Class 4A champions, made headlines last night as it scored a state-record 170 points in a victory over Houston Lee. However, the Lions’ high-scoring effort has sparked controversy as Lee set the record in a 135-point victory that saw a fight break out between the district rivals.

The debate of sportsmanship and a mercy rule is nothing new. In fact, these were hot-button issues in the Austin and Dallas areas during last year’s girls basketball season.

In Dallas, a private school coach was fired after his team’s 100-0 victory created national headlines. In Austin, LBJ beat district rival Lanier 113-3 and 107-11 and the 110-point rout led AISD athletic director Tommy Cox to say that the game’s outcome provided “some ammo for trying to look at a mercy rule in basketball.”

In an interview with the Houston Chronicle, Yates coach Greg Wise defended his team’s high-scoring ways. Yates, which plays 15 players, is averaging 119 points a game and only two of its games has been decided by less than 10 points.

“We are looking for another state championship, and we can’t get that unless we are continuing to get better and perfect our game,” said Wise, who has also seen his team score 163, 148 and 142 points in a game this season. “We aren’t scoring on other teams out of disrespect.”

Now, in my opinion, Yates’ actions on Tuesday night were classless and Wise’s excuse is insulting to the intelligence of those interested in this debate. Yates scored 100 points in the first half and had a 137-17 lead after the third quarter. The game was in hand before the coaches finished their halftime pep talks and the fact that Yates scored 33 more points in the final frame is revolting.

Houston Lee is a bad team. Houston Lee is 1-12 this season. Routing a bad team doesn’t tell anyone that you’re a good team. It just serves as a reminder that your opponent is a bad team.

Routing a bad team does nothing to improve a team and, in fact, you can almost argue that it hurts a team as teams can develop bad habits against a bad team that can be later exposed by the state’s better teams.

Although there is no way to close the competitive gap in sports (some teams are just more talented than other teams), there are ways to control ridiculous routs. Teams can stop throwing the the ball in football and teams can quit aggressively running on the basepaths in baseball. In basketball, teams can lessen their defensive intensity and they can work on other fundamentals like passing instead of attacking the basket.

But Yates opted for the record books and the Lions’ performance should be admonished, not applauded.

However, whether or not you agree with Yates’ actions on Tuesday, it’s pretty clear who the favorite is to win the Class 4A title in Austin on March 13.

Yates has won 39 straight games and its roster boasts three guards who will be playing college basketball next season. Brandon Peters has signed with Western Kentucky while Joseph Young, last year’s state tournament MVP, has committed to Providence and Darius Gardner has committed to Stephen F. Austin.