An Illinois-based high school's girls' basketball team has come under fire after a photo of players pointing at a Barbie doll stuck to a cross inside their Catholic hosts' school gym appeared online. In the image, members of Woodstock High School team are pictured beaming and pointing at the doll - their symbol for 'girl power' - after attaching it to the cross at Marian Central Catholic High School. The teenagers, dressed in white kits, were in good spirits having just trumped their rivals, Woodstock North, 57-48 inside the Landers Pavilion at Marian Central, which is the Class 3A regionals host.
@highlight
Woodstock High School's girls' basketball team widely criticized for photo
@highlight
In image, smiling teens are pictured pointing at Barbie doll stuck on cross
@highlight
Scene captured at Marian Central Catholic High School in Illinois last week
@highlight
Within minutes of the picture being posted online, it had sparked backlash
@highlight
Woodstock High has now issued apology for girls' 'inappropriate' actions
@highlight
First-year team coach was reportedly present when the image was taken
Marian Central Catholic High School
Marian Central
Marian Central Catholic High School
'Our intent was certainly not to insult, nor denigrate, @placeholder and its family.