SAN BERNARDINO (CBSLA.com) — A high school girls basketball coach is serving a two-game suspension after he was accused of running up the score on an opponent last week.

Coach Michael Anderson, who coaches both the junior varsity and varsity squads of Arroyo Valley High School’s girls basketball, was handed the suspension after defeating Bloomington High School 161-2.

Anderson faced criticism over his decision not to take out his starters until the third quarter, and he was accused of running up the score.

However, an Arroyo Valley parent says she believes the suspension was unnecessary.

“I feel it’s very wrong. I felt like, what are you teaching these kids? To lose and not be rewarded” parent Martha Vodinez said. “Are you teaching them to be a loser?”

Myra Lopez, another Arroyo Valley parent, says she was at the game and suggests Anderson was trying to have his team run down the shot clock before their shot attempts were taken.

“I think he was just trying to give the other team a chance, at least, so they could go ahead and try to make some scores,” Lopez said.

The school district says that the walk-on coach’s suspension is a lesson in compassion and respect for opponents.

“We are really emphasizing that we want them to pursue victory with honor, and that means playing the game with dignity, regardless of the outcome of the game” San Bernardino Unified School District official Maria Garcia said.

When Anderson took over the team, there was much work to be done. Many say that he took a losing program and turned it around, making it more successful.

Many parents, in fact, still believe that the kids may learn more when they lose.

“I feel like, if you lose, you just need to get out there and learn from that,” one parent said. “Get better. Don’t down talk the next team.”