UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- And they did it on live, statewide television for all to see.

That was probably the part that was most embarrassing.

Sure, Aliquippa lost a game they shouldn't have in the PIAA Class AA championship on Saturday afternoon at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center, squandering a 14-point lead in the final minutes and seeing Prep Charter celebrate as the final horn blared.

But what some of the Aliquippa players did in the immediate aftermath of that heartbreak was way out of line.

A few players left the floor without shaking hands with the Prep Charter players.

When Aliquippa superstar Herb Pope received his silver medal from coach Marvin Emerson, it didn't wind up being draped around Pope's neck because the young man made the decision to drop it to the floor in disgust before walking off to the locker room again.

In the past, I've defended Pope when so many others have elected to criticize the behavior of this kid with the off-the-charts ability but a past checkered with instability .

In this instance, though, Pope made it impossible for anyone to defend him.

Simply put, his shenanigans were selfish and embarrassed not only himself, but also Aliquippa, a town with some of the greatest people on the planet and one of the most fervent high school sports followings in this country.

Here's hoping Herb feels a whole lot of shame and remorse, because he owes it to Aliquippa to feel that way.

In addition, some Quips players accepted the runner-up team trophy and placed that on the floor before walking off in disgust in some display of, well, some display I can't figure out. Anyhow, a few of their teammates wisely picked it up.

Now, everyone knows losses sting and losses in the state championship game sting a whole lot more.

Still, there is no excuse for the behavior of some of the Quips.

What needs to be lauded, however, is the behavior of Aliquippa junior Jonathan Baldwin. He was the personification of class at the exact time some of his teammates were having intolerable meltdowns.

Baldwin congratulated Prep Charter, shaking the hand of many members of the team and coaching staff even as tears streamed down his cheeks. After the medal ceremony, Baldwin took the time to graciously congratulate Prep Charter a second time.

As a storm of classless behavior whipped around him, Baldwin was a beacon of sportsmanship.

Everyone associated with Aliquippa should take note of how Jonathan Baldwin behaved and thank him for representing their town in a respectable manner .

Also, one has to feel bad for Marvin Emerson. And it has nothing to do with the happenings of the final 3:50, when his team watched a 14-point lead evaporate, thus turning a gold medal into silver.

No, the sympathy comes for the spot Marvin was put in after the game as some on his team behaved miserably and there he stood, apologizing to representatives of the PIAA while at the same time trying to summon his players back to the floor to stand respectfully as the Prep Charter players received their medals.

Emerson is a man of utmost class who loves Aliquippa with all his heart. He deserves better treatment.

Then, there was the worst part of it.

A group of Aliquippa fans shouted ridiculous things at Emerson as he was leaving the floor.

Were there some things he could have done differently over the final few minutes of play? Yes.

But, did he deserve to get sickening insults thrown his way as a result of the loss? No.

No one deserves to be the target of such words. They were awful and the people who said them should be embarrassed to have so much as thought them, let alone allowing such insults to be verbalized.

Again, those were adults who were saying such things to Marvin.

And then one wonders why some of the Quips' players acted irresponsibly.

Where did they learn that?