The Louisiana High School Athletics Association is investigating a fight that broke out after a game between two of the region’s top high school basketball teams.
New Orleans teams McDonogh 35 and Landry-Walker went toe to toe on Tuesday night. The game was conducted without incident and ended with Landry-Walker winning with 75-60 over McDonogh 35. The fighting began after the final buzzer sounded.
According to witnesses the game had just ended when a fan came on to the court and confronted a McDonogh 35 player. A video of the brawl was sent to nola.com.
After the fight, police stayed on the scene to disperse crowds that lingered outside. The New Orleans police found that no one was seriously injured in the fight and made no arrests.
Both the Orleans Parish School District and the Algiers Charter School Association released statements about the fight.
"This was an unfortunate event between one player and fans that quickly erupted," said OPSB Superintendent Henderson Lewis.
"We are disappointed in the unacceptable behavior displayed at this event," said Adrian Morgan, the city’s charter school CEO. Both vowed to cooperate with the state high school athletic association now investigating the fight. The full statement can be found here.
LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine called the fight "very frustrating," and said neither school would be allowed to participate in games until a full investigation is completed.
Both teams have ceased basketball operations pending the outcome of that review.
Neither of the coaches of the teams involved chose to comment on the incident other than stating that there is no timetable on when the LHSAA’s decision will come down.
