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The dispute involving two all-state basketball players from Omaha Marian High School has been resolved in much the same way as the rift between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal:
One of the players is changing teams.
Guard Clare Tokheim will transfer to Omaha Westside High School for her senior year, while center Vicky McIntyre will remain at Marian for hers.
The girls were dragged into a court dispute in February when Tokheim's parents, Rich and Cari Tokheim, filed for a protection order against McIntyre's father, Larry McIntyre, over claims of menacing camera work and name calling. Larry McIntyre adamantly denied the claims — and both sides hired attorneys to do battle in court.
After several hearings were delayed — one so the girls could participate in the state basketball tournament in March — the two sides agreed to go through mediation.
W. Randall Paragas, an attorney for the Tokheims, said he will file a motion in the next few days to dismiss the protection order against Larry McIntyre.
Paragas and Thomas Locher, McIntyre's attorney, said the nine-hour confidential mediation process resolved the matter.
Clearly, so did Clare Tokheim's decision to transfer.
“It's a great opportunity for her,” Paragas said.
Clare Tokheim still has a hurdle to clear if she wants to suit up for Westside right away. Because she missed an April deadline for transfer applications, she must ask the Nebraska School Activities Association to make her immediately eligible to play. The Tokheims plan to approach the NSAA board in August.
If the NSAA denies that request, Tokheim would be ineligible for 90 school days — until late December.
Whenever she's allowed to suit up, the 5-foot-6 guard will team up with another all-state center — 6-foot-1 Sarah Nelson.
Westside Coach Ryan Broshar said he spoke with Tokheim after she expressed interest in joining Westside's team. However, Broshar said, he didn't dwell on Tokheim's reasons for leaving Marian.
“From what I know about Clare, she's a great kid and a good teammate,” he said. “Of course, I knew just from our team playing against her, she was very talented.”
Clare Tokheim and Vicky McIntyre — second-team all-state selections for Marian last season — reportedly got along on the court but didn't socialize off it.
Their parents were less enthusiastic about each other. Tokheim's parents filed for a protection order, citing a February 2008 game tape in which Larry McIntyre could be heard calling Clare Tokheim a “dumb bastard.”
Larry McIntyre denied calling Clare Tokheim a name. Locher has said Larry McIntyre sometimes muttered comments under his breath but never directed any comment toward Clare Tokheim or any other player.
McIntyre's wife, Pam, has called the allegations against her husband “preposterous.”
Clare Tokheim started summer ball with Westside last week. Vicky McIntyre, a hardworking 6-foot-6 center, also is playing in summer leagues.
Clare “is pumped,” Rich Tokheim said. “At the same time, she's sad to be leaving Marian. She has a lot of great friends there. It was a very tough decision, but it was one that had to be made.”
Locher said Vicky McIntyre, who has attracted interest from Division I schools, is excited about her senior season, too.
“Of course she is,” he said. “We wish everyone well.”
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