CHERRY TOWNSHIP — The Moniteau girls basketball coach came under fire Monday night when three parents of players and one player spoke to the school board.

Reading from a prepared statement, freshman player Samantha Hall said she started the basketball season with an injury.

She claimed that Matt Stebbins, the coach and substitute teacher, urged her to resume practicing with the team, contradicting written instructions from her physician.

Samantha said the alleged bullying was reported to the school board on Feb. 10. She asked why Stebbins has not been investigated.

Joyce Brehm of West Sunbury and a parent of another player on the team, told the school board that it has not given adequate attention to parents’ concerns about Stebbins’ sideline behavior at games, alleged verbal and gestural abuse and bullying.

She said that board members have not discussed the situation with students, and she accused the board of protecting coaches.

Les King of Karns City claimed his daughter also was bullied and subsequently quit the team.

Hall’s mother, Rhonda Hall, expressed concern that the community will retaliate against her daughter because she spoke at the board meeting.

Following the board meeting Rhonda Hall explained her attempts to advocate on her daughter’s behalf.

Concerned about her daughter’s injury, Rhonda Hall said she spoke with Stebbins. Unsatisfied with his response, she spoke with athletic director Zoe McDonald, then with assistant principal Todd Amsler and finally with Superintendent George Svolos.

Rhonda Hall said her complaint was not about insufficient playing time but about how Stebbins allegedly pressured her daughter.

Following the school board meeting, Robin King said her daughter, also a freshman, was one of three players who left the team before the end of the season.

King believes that other parents are not speaking up because they are afraid of retaliation by Stebbins either during the upcoming track season or during the next basketball season. Stebbins coaches the boy’s track team.

Samantha Hall will participate on the girls track team. However, she is concerned about potential interaction with Stebbins. The teams travel together to meets and share the practice area at the high school.

Stebbins could not be reached for comment this morning.

Svolos said Monday night that the district is proactive about bullying.

“We’re constantly upgrading and updating the antibullying education program,” said the superintendent, who declined to comment further.

School board President Melissa DeMatteis said Stebbins has coached two successful seasons.

“He’s a good man,” she said. She also declined further comment.

The Moniteau girls basketball season ended in the first round of the District 9 Class AA playoffs Thursday with a 47-42 loss to Redbank Valley at Union High School.

Stebbins, 25, is in his second year as head coach.

He graduated from Slippery Rock University with a degree in history. Before coaching at Moniteau, Stebbins was the junior varsity coach for Slippery Rock High School and a varsity assistant at Mohawk.

He also worked at 5-Star Basketball Camps throughout the country.