Basketball brawl leads to 3 game suspension for North Lawndale, Marshall, CPS says
CHICAGO (WLS) -- North Lawndale College Prep and Marshall High School were both slapped with three game suspensions after a brawl broke out after a basketball game.
North Lawndale had just won the IHSA Boys Basketball Sectional when the brawl broke out Wednesday night. Chicago Public Schools handed down the punishment on Thursday.
North Lawndale will forfeit its Friday game, according to the Illinois High School Association, and St. Joseph (Westchester) will advance to the IHSA Super-Sectional.
North Lawndale will also miss the first two games next season. Marshall will begin serving it suspension next season.
"This was not an easy decision to make, but we believe that it is the correct one. Chicago Public Schools and the IHSA are sending the message that incidents like this at high school contests will not be tolerated. We will continue to work with the Chicago Public Schools, Marshall High School and North Lawndale High School on how we can prevent future instances like this from occurring," IHSA Director Marty Hickman said in a statement.
Video of the brawl was posted on social media.
No one was injured, but a 14-year-old girl was arrested.
Witnesses said it started with the players in the handshake line after the game, which North Lawndale High School won. It quickly escalated into the stands, where fans threw punches and insults.
"I got hit. Made me want to swing back," Zeron Clark said. "I don't know. Somebody from Marshall."
The 14-year-old girl was charged with assaulting two officers. She is due in juvenile court.
Marshall athletic director and legendary girls basketball coach Dorothy Gaters was seated right behind Marshall's bench when the fight broke out. She said it was "not a good day for high school sports. Period."
The IHSA and Chicago Public Schools are reviewing the incident and may hand down punishment. CPS issued a statement Thursday that the district "does not tolerate unsportsmanlike conduct on or off the court, and we are currently investigating this matter."
"This is not something we want to celebrate. This is not something we want to encourage," Gerald Smith, North Lawndale student advocate, said.
