« Station: In 2004, warning placed on state's foam order | Today | Station: Medical examiner explains how they died »

February 1, 2007

Hearing set on high school basketball brawl

The R.I. Interscholastic League will hold a meeting this afternoon to determine what disciplinary action should be taken as a result of an on-court melee in the final minute of Tuesday night’s Cranston West-Smithfield boys basketball game in Cranston.

With 13 seconds remaining in the game and Smithfield leading 49-40, a fight broke out between a Cranston West player and a Smithfield player as they struggled for control of the ball. Before game officials could separate the two players, others from both teams along with fans from the stands converged on the court.

For about five minutes there were approximately 100 people -- players, non-playing students and adults -- involved in the on-court melee. Cranston School Department event staff workers, along with the coaching staffs of both teams, were able to quell the major portion of the uprising within a few minutes. Several Cranston police officers, who were called to the scene, stabilized the situation and there were no further disturbances.

There were no reported injuries and there were no arrests at the scene. A Cranston School Department official said, however, that the Cranston police are still reviewing a videotape of the game.

Once order was restored, game officials called the game and declared Smithfield the winner. Officials from both schools, Interscholastic League officials and game officials are expected to attend today’s meeting.

-Sports Writer John Gillooly

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 11:57 AM | Permalink

Comments

Joe S. | February 1, 2007 3:17 PM link

Post a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)