School leaders in Maryland are investigating a brawl that took place Monday at a varsity boy’s basketball game at Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, Md.
Two Montgomery County high school principals are working with the school system to identify coaches, athletes and fans involved in the brawl, WTTG-TV reported.
Chris Cram, spokesman for Montgomery County Public Schools, told Montgomery Community Media that disciplinary measures were taken against the players, but he wouldn’t reveal what measures were being taken in order to protect the students’ confidentiality. Cram said he didn’t have information regarding any discipline for the schools’ coaches.
The fight appears to have started between a Churchill High School player and a James Hubert Blake High School player.
Montgomery County Public Schools is still investigating the incident. School officials are analyzing videos, like the clip posted to the Twitter account "@MoCoPGNews."
In the clip, at least two players are involved in a scuffle at first. Multiple players follow, moving toward the stands.
As a crowd forms – at one point, at least two adults appear to be involved in the fight near center court. Others, possibly security, can be seen attempting to separate both sides. It took about 40 seconds to calm the crowd.
Letters sent by both principals said that the incident happened within the last two minutes of Monday’s game, and saying they were disappointed in the students’ behavior.
"We are dismayed and disappointed by the behaviors displayed in this incident which do not represent the R.A.I.S.E. Core Values of MCPS Athletics…" Churchill principal John Taylor wrote.
Anyone involved could face action in accordance with the MCPS Code of Conduct, Taylor said.
Just in from @wchsbulldog’s principal following the reported brawl that broke out at last night’s Churchill vs. Blake HS basketball game, played at Churchill. @fox5dc https://t.co/QMU2zuGnJ6 pic.twitter.com/grN89qYwJl
— Stephanie Ramirez (@RamirezReports) February 1, 2022
Churchill Booster Club president Rob Demske told WTTG-TV that the fact that adults, and possibly parents, were involved in the brawl is disturbing.
"Go, view and watch and enjoy the competition, Demske said. “But that’s it. Let the student athletes participate and don’t do anything that would potentially disturb the student’s ability to participate. That’s my message.”
Demske said this is the first time a brawl has broken out at Churchill this year.
The incident raised questions about security at the school. Cram did not answer WTTF-TV on whether MCPS asks for an officer to be assigned to the boys varsity basketball games. Officers were requested for the boy's varsity football games this school year.
Police were called to Churchill High School after the brawl to ensure people left the high school safely and orderly. No arrests were made.
MCPS’s interim superintendent said she would review the school security and the school system's relationship with police after the Magruder High School shooting left a 15-year-old student severely injured more than a week ago. So far, no announcements have been made.
The Montgomery County Council is planning a joint Public Safety and Education & Culture Committee meeting on Feb. 9 that is supposed to also include both county police and MCPS school leaders, WTTG-TV reported.
