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February 1, 2007

High school basketball melee leads to suspensions

A large number of players on both the Cranston West and Smithfield boys basketball teams will be suspended for one game, and three players have been suspended for up to three games, as a result of an on-court melee in the final minute of a Tuesday night game between the teams at Cranston West.

In addition, Cranston police may charge two non-playing students who participated in the fight with disorderly conduct.

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 the two players struggled for control of the ball. Before game officials could separate the two players involved in the fight, players from both teams and fans in the stands converged on the court.

Approximately 100 individuals -- players, non-playing students and adults -- were 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 in about five minutes. Several Cranston police officers, who were called to the scene, further stabilized the situation once they arrived and there were no further disturbances.

There were no arrests at the scene, and Cranston public schools athletic director Mike Traficante said there were no reported injuries.

However, Cranston police have reviewed a video tape of the game and Tom Mezzanotte, executive director of the R.I. Interscholastic League, said it is his understanding that two non-playing students may be charged with disorderly conduct. He said he understands that other spectators also may be charged.

Cranston West officials also viewed the tape and have taken school disciplinary action against some non-playing students who were identified as being involved in the melee. Mezzanotte also said that the non-playing students involved will be barred from attending future Interscholastic League events.

Once order was restored Tuesday night, the game officials called the game with the 13 seconds still showing on the clock and declared Smithfield the winner.

-- Journal sports writer John Gillooly

In their report to the league the game officials listed two players, one from Smithfield and one from Cranston West, as being ejected for fighting.

Under league rules, a player ejected for fighting is automatically suspended for at least one game. After viewing the tape, however, league officials identified another Cranston West player who was involved in the initial fight. Those three players have been suspended for up to three games. Under league policy, the players were not named.

In addition to the three players handed multigame suspensions, all the players from both teams who rushed onto the court from the bench have been suspended for one game.

The suspensions for all players were imposed immediately.

Only a combined total of seven players from the two teams who were in uniform Tuesday night do not received any suspensions. Mezzanotte said those seven players were individuals playing in the game at the time the fight broke out, but who were identified as not being involved in the fight.

The multi-suspensions means that both teams will need to use junior-varsity players in the next game. Smithfield, which currently leads the League Division I-North subdivision with an 8-2 record, is scheduled to play South Kingstown Friday night in Smithfield. Cranston West, which is 1-10 in Interscholastic League play this season, will play Mount Pleasant Thursday night at Cranston West.

-- Journal sports writer John Gillooly

Posted by Art Martone at 5:55 PM | Permalink

February 1, 2007

High school basketball melee leads to suspensions

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