The NJ State Interscholastic Athletic Association Disqualified two Newark girl’s high school basketball programs from post season play after the teams were engaged in a brawl that injured a player on Thursday.
According to NJSIAA officials, girls basketball game between University High School and Essex County Vo-Tech – Market Street was suspended with approximately :17 seconds left in the third quarter due to an on-court melee.
Numerous players from both schools were ejected and disqualified for unsportsmanlike, flagrant conduct according to a statement released by NJSIAA officials.
One University High School player spent the night at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, where she was treated for a head injury after video that surfaced showed the violent interaction between fans and players on the court at Newark Tech according to officials.
NJSIAA said following in the statement: “As per NJSIAA rules, any player or coach ejected before, during, or after an interscholastic event for unsportsmanlike, flagrant verbal or physical misconduct will be disqualified from the next two regularly scheduled games.
Further, any varsity team accumulating three or more player or coach disqualifications for flagrant, unsportsmanlike conduct prior to the start of a tournament – as is the case for both teams in this instance- will not be permitted to participate in that tournament.”
State officials did not confirm who or what initiated the melee but would only say players from both schools were involved resulting in ejections due to players reportedly leaving the benches and engaging in the fight.
“We will defend the rules approved and affirmed by our member schools, ” NJSIAA officials said.