Sportsmanship is one of the fundamental tenets of high school athletics around the United States, but a recent incident at a Pennsylvania high school basketball playoff game that got national attention seems to call that into question. So much so state high school sports leaders have made a bold decision regarding discipline for the two schools involved in it.
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Activities Association, who runs high school sports in that state, yesterday formally disciplined Meadville Area and Uniontown Area High Schools for their roles in a fight that happened in the stands late in their contest last week at Meadville’s campus, located outside of Pittsburgh. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette citing a statement from the PIAA, the schools were both kicked out of this year’s tournament, and could be banned from next year’s playoffs as well unless the schools fulfill several provisions including sportsmanship education for both players and coaches.
The fight happened with about three minutes left in the fourth quarter of the game and with Meadville in the lead 63-55 a foul had been called. As free throws were about to be taken following that call, fans from both schools started engaging in physical altercations in the stands behind the Meadville bench. All of this was caught on video during the YouTube broadcast of the game which is here. (Starts a little before the 1:30:00 mark). A couple of people were detained by police following the incident, with no word on whether charges were filed against those individuals.
As for whether either school may appeal, the Meadville coach told a local Erie, PA, newspaper they were looking at potential options in this area.