Controversial Class 1 state champion hoops coach bolts for Arkansas

Southeast Missourian

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Dora's Bryson Luna (20) eyes Delta's Eric Berry (23) moving to the basket in a Class 1 boys basketball quarterfinal game in Van Buren, Missouri, March 7, 2020. The Bobcats lost to Dora, 106-70.

Dustin Ward ~ Delta Dunklin Democrat

The controversial basketball coach who led Dora (32-2) over Delta in the Missouri Class 1 playoffs this spring en route to a state basketball title is moving to Viola High in northcentral Arkansas.

Rick Luna’s contract at Dora was not renewed after the 2019-20 season despite the Falcons winning a MSHSAA championship. Dora’s school board failed to give a reason for voting 5-1 against extending Luna’s coaching job with the school.

Delta (25-6), the Class 1 District 2 champ, was on the wrong end of a 106-70 blowout March 7 to Dora in a quarterfinal contest in Van Buren, Missouri.

Luna will not be going to Viola by himself. His triplet sons, Bryson, Auston and Mason will join their father for their senior seasons with the Longhorns.

In the 2018-19 season, a video surfaced showing Dora players, two of Luna’s sons, swapping spots at the free-throw line during a close game against Licking, Missouri on December 29, 2018. Luna has denied the move was planned and noted his Falcons made only one of the four shots in question from the charity stripe and Dora won by two, 63-61.

Luna was named the Missouri Basketball Association’s Class 1 coach of the year following the 2019-20 campaign.

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He fails to understand. It doesn’t matter how many of the shots were made and whether the move was planned or not. It was wrong, an apology should have been made, and the boys should have been disciplined.

-- Posted by Fan1988 on Fri, Jun 19, 2020, at 10:13 AM
What isn't mentioned is that the star of the team, Isaac Haney has transferred up to Kickapoo for his senior year. Luna probably wanted out of town while the getting was good

-- Posted by cd23 on Sat, Jun 20, 2020, at 12:54 AM
He's a cheater and not a good example for kids. He shouldn't be in education at all.

-- Posted by tobedetermined on Sun, Jun 21, 2020, at 9:21 PM

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