DeSoto and Duncanville school districts reviewed disciplinary options following a brawl that broke out after a basketball game between the two high schools.
The DeSoto basketball team will forfeit the team's last two regular games, according to DeSoto ISD. The players involved in the incident also will receive a game suspension. The school said it also suspended indefinitely a student from the program in connection with the incident.
A fight broke that broke out Tuesday evening between the powerhouse basketball programs was captured on video. Players could be seen shoving each other and throwing punches in what erupted into a benches-clearing donnybrook at Duncanville’s Sandra Meadows Arena.
What appeared to be parents, members of the coaching staffs and security personnel were seen restraining players.
Former UNT basketball player Jabari Johnson posted video of the fight to Twitter.
“I hate we had to witness this ugly scene [tonight],” he wrote. “There's no place for this in the game of [basketball]. Players suffered injuries & its likely that suspensions will impact both teams moving forward.”
DeSoto players were wearing black uniforms, and Duncanville was wearing gray. No injuries or suspensions were immediately confirmed.
The team will forfeit the team's last two regular games, according to DeSoto ISD. The players involved in the incident also will receive a game suspension. The school said it also suspended indefinitely a student from the program in connection with the incident.
Each district released a statement denouncing the melee.
Administrators from both districts and the UIL were working to “determine who was involved, where discipline is applicable and what next steps are in order as a result of [Tuesday] night’s incident.”
DeSoto and Duncanville ISDs were scheduled to hold a joint meeting at Wednesday to review the incident and determine any disciplinary action.
The UIL released this statement following the brawl, according to the Star-Telegram.
"The UIL is aware of the altercation between the Duncanville and DeSoto boys basketball teams on Tuesday, Feb. 6. We take these matters extremely seriously and the UIL State Executive Committee will evaluate this incident for potential penalties in addition to any action taken by the schools and district executive committee. The SEC will meet on Tuesday, Feb. 13."
No. 6 DeSoto, 67-46 beat No. 7 Duncanville.
DeSoto ISD released a statement following the incident:
DeSoto ISD does not condone the actions of the young men involved in the altercation that took place at last night's basketball game at Duncanville High School.
Following district administration’s review of the incident, the varsity boys’ basketball team will forfeit the season’s last two regular games.
In addition the forfeiting those games, the district will issue game suspensions for those involved in the incident. As an additional measure, at least one student-athlete has been suspended indefinitely from the program.
Regardless of which team may have initiated the altercation, DeSoto ISD makes clear that it does not condone the behavior that took place at last night’s game. In all situations, DeSoto ISD maintains an expectation of high character for all district students.