The MIAA and Foxboro High School Robbed The South High Lady Colonels In 2023.

Bryan Bascones posts up Eddie Ruter in the Sweet 16 Game 2022-23

First things first. I write this blog as a discussion piece and with zero hatred in my soul. I consider myself an honest humanitarian. I don't wish harm or hate on anyone for how they choose to live their life. I learned a long time ago, that it's not up to us to judge anyone. That's god's job. This one kind of landed on my doorstep and I have an axe to grind. A horse in the race so to speak. I have to voice some thoughts on this decision, or non-decision to allow a male to compete and dominate in a girl's sport and exactly how many different people it effected.

I started following this team when Coach Diago McClain took the reigns for South High. The work these kids put in year round is absolutely a separate culture from the norm and all they do is win. It's been inspiring to watch these kids grow over the last few years and get better just by working hard. They show up to all these opposing gyms and play with class. Nothing but respect. Coach McClain wouldn't allow anything short of that. I'd be lying if I tried to sit here and tell you we don't get the same old looks as "South High People". As far as racial issues go, that's a whole separate blog. South High, Cathedral High, Springfield Charter are the most diverse and I get it. Cities. I just get the overwhelming feeling that the MIAA looks down on the South Girls like they don't belong in the company of these South Shore teams. I can only speak on South High's behalf because I literally filmed every single game that season and my analysis says that if the MIAA didn't allow Eddie Ruter to play on Foxboro High's girls basketball team, South High had great chance to win the state title. Foxboro went on to beat Dracut in the finals, who we had already beaten earlier in the season. I know anything could happen but South undefeated and was on a roll.

This South High Team in question was a super team and an early favorite to win it all. Undefeated going into this Sweet 16 game, on a roll. Jaizzy Santiago, Naima Bleou, Jaiyla Colon, Bryan Bascones and Captain Ari Gonzalez. After heartbreak the previous year in Walpole, it was nothing but blood, sweat and tears all season. I was emotionally attached to this team. It was truly a family atmosphere and week after week, we just sat back amazed at the work these girls were putting in. Everyone was so ready for this game. And I will say this...the hype that was around this game, it's amazing that it wasn't public knowledge that they had a male. Not a thing was mentioned. I don't know the process but you would think that has to be approved by the MIAA for liability purposes. Eddie Ruter is 6'3. Max Preps has him listed at 6ft, as does any info on any of the schools web site. I also have a problem with this quote from Foxboro HIgh's Coach respectfully. Just seems pretty bold to call him the secret weapon. As far as I'm concerned it's cheating if it was indeed a secret. My official outlook on this scenario in sports is that there is a reason they have Men's Tee's and Women's Tee's in golf. There is a reason the women's basketball is smaller. It's science. Men are built bigger and stronger than women. It's a competitive advantage. That's not saying women aren't capable of playing at the men's level, but vice versa is dangerous. Injury risk first and foremost.

Bryan Bascones was named Central Mass Player Of The Year that season and was no stranger to a size battle. She played Center all 4 seasons, basically a power forward but being the tallest on the team, she took all the size match ups in the paint and succeeded. This game was different. This player was different. I will be honest and say I had zero suspicions at the time or after the game that it was Eddie, not Addie. I walked away from that game saying it looked like Dirk Nowitzki and I wasn't lying. Eddie put up 31points and 16rebuonds and just dominated down low.

See for yourself, here's Eddie's highlights from that game...31/16

Notice what I titled this highlight...."This girl was the difference"...

Now I told ya, I was emotionally invested here. Not only the team, but the coaches, parents, fans...It was and still is a family atmosphere with Coach McClain's program. I walked away from that game with heavy tears, heartbroken because it was Ari's last game...The crash of being undefeated up to that game, and now it was over. I left and couldn't even make eye contact with these poor kids. I actually gave Eddie his flowers in real time..It was absolutely a dominating performance. But it was cheating in my eyes. It was just such a blatant physical advantage and also I believe it was the game of Eddie's life. It even gets a little shadier the deeper I dug. Eddie's father is Brent Ruter, of the Foxborough School Committee so make your own assumptions but I'm sure everyone knew to keep the lid on this one.

Overall, it is what it is. We can't change the past but that's a damn shame. Resume's for college look a little better with a State Title on it. Who knows if this had scholarship implications. It's just an awfully shady scenario and like I said from the start, I have no issue or hate towards transgender people and quite frankly, don't care who or what anyone wants to be. Go for it. But this is strictly from a competition standpoint...It's an unfair competitive advantage to have a male competing against especially unbeknownst to the opposing team. Here's the full game video...You can feel how tough of a loss this was..

As far as I'm concerned this will forever be The Asterisks Game...