A California high school boys’ basketball team forfeited a game after accusations of racist behavior came against student fans.
According to the Times-Standard, Ferndale High School forfeited a game on Friday against Hoopa High School, one day after the schools’ girls’ teams met at Ferndale. During the girls’ game on Thursday, students in attendance — reportedly including some members of the boys’ team — made derogatory and racist remarks toward Hoopa players.
The boys’ teams were set to meet at Hoopa on Friday, but some members of the Ferndale varsity team refused to make the trip.
Beth Anderson, Ferndale’s principal and district superintendent, described what happened in a release.
"After Thursday's event, I got in touch with Hoopa High School assistant principal and athletic director Craig Cornelson. We took precautions to safeguard students, but we did not believe the students were at risk or we would have cancelled the game. Unfortunately, not all the parents of varsity players had the same confidence and they kept their sons home, so the team had to forfeit.”
HumboldtSports.com, which covers the area, reports that Ferndale’s forfeit allowed Hoopa to claim at least a share of the Little 4 title without having to play for it.
"Racism is unacceptable by anyone, anywhere, any time," Anderson’s statement read. "The students who acted inappropriately Thursday evening are embarrassed and apologetic, as they should be. They’ve been disciplined. What I'm hoping we can do now is use this opportunity to teach all students how to recognize and respond to racism to prevent this sort of thing from happening in the future."
