Garbage Can Thrown Into Wayzata Player and Coach in Post-Game Chaos
The February 13 matchup between the Wayzata Trojans and Hopkins Royals featured two of the top Class 4A teams in Minnesota, with Hopkins escaping with a 77-76 victory. However, the game’s heated conclusion, including a post-game confrontation between coaches, fans storming the court, and a video showing a garbage can being thrown at Wayzata players and coach, has overshadowed the action on the floor. Now, the contrasting responses from both schools are drawing significant attention.
Game Ends in Controversy, Chaos Follows
Wayzata, led by junior guard Christian Wiggins’ 33-point performance, nearly erased a double-digit deficit in the final minutes. With seconds remaining, senior forward Wyatt McBeth took a contested shot, which did not draw a foul call despite visible contact. The no-call sparked frustration from Wayzata head coach Bryan Schnettler, who engaged in a verbal exchange with the Hopkins coaching staff. Officials assessed offsetting technical fouls on both benches before the game ended.
As Wayzata’s team left the floor without participating in the post-game handshake, Hopkins fans stormed the court with both the fans and the Royals team seeming to follow the Trojans to their locker room. A video later surfaced showing a garbage can being thrown and hitting MacBeth and Schnettler, further adding to the controversy.
Chaz Mootz: ‘Looked like a foul… Hopkins student section follows Wayzata to locker room’
CCX’s Chaz Mootz posted a video that has received almost 700,000 views as of the date of this article showing the ending:
Darren Wolfson Calls It a ‘Bleep-Show’
KSTP Channel 5 Sports’ Darren Wolfson, who was in attendance, summed up the game and its aftermath in a pointed tweet:
“Was at Hopkins-Wayzata tonight, 2 elite teams in 4A. Royals won by 1. When these teams meet again for section title, @MSHSL better have its senior-most officials working. Tonight was a bleep-show, result was coaching staffs getting into each other’s faces postgame. Was pathetic.”
Ryan James: ‘Do I Think There Will Be Consequences? Doubtful.’
Shortly after the game, PrepHoops.com’s Ryan James provided a sharp breakdown of the situation, questioning whether accountability would follow for all involved:
“Do I think there will be consequences? For any of this? Doubtful. There should be coaches that likely should have to sit out a game or two – head coaches and assistants – and they likely won’t. There should be a Hopkins player or two suspended for what they did after the game, and they likely won’t. And that Hopkins student group should not be allowed at a game the rest of this year for their actions.”
James had an excellent article summarizing the events:
Wayzata Suspends Schnettler, Emphasizes Sportsmanship
In response, Wayzata Public Schools suspended Schnettler for one game, citing his conduct during the final moments. Athletic Director Meghan Potter released a statement reinforcing the school’s commitment to sportsmanship:
“We are committed to using last Thursday’s game as a learning opportunity to reinforce the importance of composure, respect, and good sportsmanship—both during and after competition, regardless of the outcome.”
Schnettler remained focused on his players and their season, stating in an email to Wayzata.com:
“We are just looking forward to a great rest of the season with our guys!”
Many in the Minnesota basketball community consider Schnettler to be one of the best, if not the best, high school coaches in the state—not just from a player development standpoint, but also for his role in shaping student-athletes in the game of life. His leadership, emphasis on character, and ability to mentor young athletes have earned him widespread respect.
Hopkins Addresses Fan Behavior but Remains Silent on Further Discipline
While Wayzata disciplined its head coach, Hopkins responded differently, focusing on crowd control. The school issued a letter reinforcing expectations for fan behavior, warning that future violations—such as court storming—could lead to ejections or bans from attending games, as reported by Darren Wolfson on X.com
However, Hopkins has not publicly addressed whether any of its players, coaches, or students have faced consequences for their actions.
Athletic Director Jared Ellerson Has Yet to Respond to our inquiry
Hopkins Athletic Director Jared Ellerson has not responded to an email sent mid-day on Wednesday requesting information about:
- Safety measures at future games
- Enforcement of fan behavior policies
- Whether any Hopkins coaches, players, students, or staff have been disciplined
Will There Be More Action Taken?
The differing responses from Wayzata and Hopkins raise questions about accountability. Wayzata took immediate action, while Hopkins has remained silent on potential discipline beyond crowd control. With video evidence surfacing and public scrutiny growing, many are wondering whether additional consequences are forthcoming.
If these teams meet again in the section championship, it won’t just be a battle for a trip to the state tournament—it will be a test of how both programs handle intensity, composure, and sportsmanship on the biggest stage.
The Trojans host East Ridge tonight as Schnettler will be serving his one game suspension.
