When a middle school basketball team faced a player shortage during an out-of-town game, no one expected an adult to step onto the court in uniform.

What started as a routine junior varsity match ended with multiple coaches fired, a team forfeiting its season, and a community demanding answers.

During a Churchland High School JV girls’ basketball game in Portsmouth, Virginia, an assistant coach made a choice that shocked parents and school officials. With a 13-year-old player absent, 22-year-old assistant coach Arlisha Boykins put on the young player’s jersey.

She did not just sit on the bench; she played.

Video footage captured from the stands shows Boykins driving to the basket, shooting, and blocking shots against middle school opponents. Spectators quickly noticed that one player dwarfed the others in height and athleticism.

A Breach of Trust on the Court
Parents expecting a fair game for young teenagers watched in disbelief as the scene unfolded. The father of the 13-year-old player whose jersey was used expressed his complete shock.

“Coaches always preach to the kids about integrity and those types of things, so I was just shocked,” he told local reporters. He emphasized that his family had received no apology from the leadership overseeing the athletic program.

School officials reacted swiftly once video footage circulated and parents raised formal complaints. Portsmouth Public Schools confirmed that Boykins is no longer employed by the district.

The fallout did not stop there. School administrators also terminated the head coach of the varsity program after investigations revealed the coach allegedly encouraged the behavior during the game. A third staff member associated with the program was dismissed as well.

A Season Cut Short
Facing the embarrassment of the incident, the players and parents made a tough choice together. Rather than continue under dark clouds, the Churchland team voted to forfeit the rest of their season.

The opponent in that match, Nansemond River High School, as well as league officials, expressed disappointment over the lapse in ethics in an environment meant to build character.

What We Know
Assistant coach Arlisha Boykins, 22, put on a 13-year-old player’s jersey and played in a JV game.
Game footage shows Boykins scoring and blocking shots against middle school players.
Portsmouth Public Schools fired Boykins and two other coaching staff members.
The absent player’s family was away out of town when the incident occurred.
Churchland players and parents mutually decided to cancel the remainder of their season.

Why This Matters
Youth sports rely on trust between parents, coaches, and school districts. Parents send their children to compete under the assumption that adults will model ethics, fair play, and sportsmanship.

When adults prioritize winning at all costs—even resorting to impersonating middle school students on the court—it undermines the core purpose of educational athletics. It deprives young athletes of a fair playing field and damages their faith in authority figures.

Youth sports must remain a safe space for growth, integrity, and character—not a venue for adult shortcuts.