High School Basketball Team Caught Swapping Triplets Before Free Throws

A Missouri high-school basketball coach is under fire after being accused of swapping his triplet sons before free throws at a game over the weekend, the Springfield News-Leader reports. The Missouri State High School Activities Association confirmed to the newspaper it is investigating coach Rick Luna—the father of the triplets and principal of Dora High School—after his sons were caught on video swapping at the free-throw line during a Saturday game at the Cabool Boys Holiday Tournament championship. The footage shows No. 34 Auston Luna get fouled and then return to the sidelines while one of his brothers shoots the free throw. According to the newspaper, the referee did not catch the swap despite all three boys wearing different numbers. Dora High School reportedly won the game 64-62. “As far as the game itself, there’s not a lot that can be done since the game is over. In situations like this, it’s more just a discussion and education of the officials and things like that,” MSHSAA spokesperson Jason West told the News-Leader. Luna denied that the move had been intentionally planned to Ozarks Sports Zone. Deadspin reports the Dora team’s Twitter account retweeted a post claiming the move “happens all the time in basketball and has for years.”