Tokoto's numbers will still count though Falls forfeits game

Long story short, Menomonee Falls' forward J.P. Tokoto officially broke the school's all-time basketball scoring record on Jan. 13 against West Allis Central.

The 30 points that Tokoto notched that night to pass the legendary Brad Christianson for that honor will still count even though the Falls boys team will not be able to count the victory they earned in the contest.

"We did the research with the WIAA and talked to (Deputy Director) Wade Labecki and with the (Greater Metro Conference) commissioner to see what we could do to mitigate our error," Falls Principal Gary Kiltz said. "We were not going to punish the student (Tokoto) for something that was clearly our (the administration's) fault."

But the forfeit that Falls was forced to absorb as the result of using an ineligible player will still stand.

Misinterpreting rules

The word of the forfeit came down the night of Jan. 19. Falls was notified of an athletic code violation and subsequent suspension of a player on Jan. 12, but the appeal of the suspension was delayed until Jan. 17. Citing their own interpretation of the due process clause, Falls officials let the athlete play in the Jan. 13 game, during which Tokoto broke the record and Christianson presented him with the game ball.

That interpretation of the rule was later deemed incorrect by the WIAA causing the forfeiture and the striking off all statistics from the game. WIAA rules state that an athlete cannot play during the appeals process. The Falls district released a statement Jan. 19 acknowledging the error.

"The question in our minds was, was when does due process end and the suspension begin," Kiltz said. "We interpreted that due process (the presumption of innocence) continues through the appeals process and only after the process has been completed and guilt has been established does the suspension begin.

"Our attorney agreed with our decision, but the WIAA did not. The WIAA oversees us (in the realm of interscholastic athletics) and so we will abide by what they say. It's unfortunate that a technicality forces us to forfeit the game."

Falls officials said that they would amend their athletic code to come into compliance with the WIAA rules.

That was only the first part of the story, however.

During the following day (Friday), Falls officials, especially Kiltz and Athletic Director David Petroff scrambled to put as many fingers as possible into what was clearly a broken public relations dike.

They consulted with the WIAA, the Greater Metro Conference commissioner and their own Superintendent Patricia Greco, and were notified that though the forfeiture would have to stand, the statistics could still be counted.

That meant the elaborate and meaningful ceremony, as well as the 3-pointer by Tokoto that finally broke the record and all the other 30 points he poured in on Jan. 13, will not have gone for naught.

Dignified response

And Indians coach Dan Leffel was especially impressed with how Tokoto and the team responded to the series of unfortunate events.

"When I told him (Tokoto) what happened (when the game was forfeit and before the points were reinstated), he just said 'Let's move on,' " Leffel said. "It was not a distraction to him. He was only disappointed in the fact that the game would be recorded as a loss. He just came out more determined than ever."

In fact, playing without the suspended player, the Indians did respond well and won a decisive victory over West Allis Hale on Friday (see story in Sports Wrapups) as Tokoto scored 26 points to lead the way. If the points from the Central game had not been reinstated, he would have still broken the record with his effort against Hale.

Kiltz was relieved at the response.

"Other people of his (Tokoto's) notoriety and status may not have taken it as gracefully as he did," said Kiltz of the all-stater, who has been nominated for All-America status this season. "J.P. is an individual with a sense of humility and dignity and we all greatly appreciate that."

Falls All-Time Scorers

Updated and corrected as of Jan. 21:

J.P. Tokoto 1,463

Brad Christianson 1,427

Dave Gross 1,164

Tom Knuese 1,128

Bob Wolf 1,118

John Budde 883

Dan Schramm 849

Brett Hirsch 807

Kurt McMahon 786

Scott Ohrmundt 774.