ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Basketball players may be suspended after brawl Friday night
A high school basketball game that turned into a brawl could result in some players being suspended, officials said Monday.
During Friday's District 32-5A contest, Weslaco High and Brownsville Hanna were involved in a brawl at center court late in the fourth quarter, which led to fans and coaches coming from the stands to break up the fight.
Game officials ejected three players, and 15 others were not allowed back on the floor for the remaining 3:33 of the contest.
A video of the brawl was played by local media, showing fans and parents storming onto the court along with coaches to separate the fight.
The video shows some players pushing and shoving one another, but it appears that no players threw punches.
Weslaco athletic director Oscar Riojas said Monday he planned to meet with athletic coordinator Tony Villarreal and head coach Gabe Valdez Tuesday to discuss possible disciplinary actions for Weslaco High players that were involved in the incident. Riojas said he had yet to discuss the incident with officials from Hanna.
"Usually, the districts will take care of the disciplinary (action)," Riojas said. "I'm sure Brownsville will take appropriate action and I and coach (Tony) Villarreal will take care of us."
But BISD athletic director Joe Rodriguez thinks otherwise.
Because there were some "fans and students who came on the floor," Rodriguez believes the District Executive Committee (DEC) will get involved and make a ruling on the incident.
Rodriguez said officials from both schools had not agreed to handle the situation "in house." Rodriguez said Hanna head coach Don Denson has discussed with Hanna athletic coordinator Tom Chavez about the incident and is in working on a report document. Rodriguez went on to suggest that officials from Weslaco follow the same protocol.
"I'm not throwing stones and was not there, but I heard Weslaco had a pretty aggressive guy," Rodriguez said.
As of Monday morning, 32-5A DEC Chairman Tim Snyder said he hasn't talked to officials from either school or received any documentation regarding the incident.
"This is the first I've heard of it," Schneider said.
Calls seeking comment from Schneider Monday afternoon were unanswered.
Weslaco plays host to Porter on Tuesday night, while Hanna faces arch rival Rivera on the road.
