Melee shortens boys’ basketball game at West Seattle High School

Police had to help break up a melee that led to tonight’s boys’ varsity basketball game at West Seattle High School getting cut short. At the gym, WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand, who’s covered numerous games around WS this season, says the game had less than five minutes to go when he saw two players, one from Rainier Beach HS and one from WSHS, get into a confrontation on the floor, then someone “came out of nowhere” to join the melee, police stepped in, someone in the stands was yelling at the refs, and others joined in the criticism of the refs. Police stepped in and started helping get things under control, but the game was officially called with 4:22 to go, score RB 58, WSHS 22, and we are told it will count. No word of any injuries. Patrick talked with WSHS principal Bruce Bivins as the gym was clearing; he said, “The students acted correctly – (but) the actions of hotheaded adults” are what resulted in the melee. 11:02 PM: Long before the game’s abrupt ending, this was Senior Night and Open House night at WSHS, and we’ll have a separate story on all that a bit later.

Jim February 12, 2010 (1:34 pm)

Can’t wait to send my kids to a Seattle public high school.

Chas February 12, 2010 (2:54 pm)

Don’t blame actions of people in the stands on the schools. Plus, it was refs who lost control of a physical game that brought about the two student-athletes squaring off.

Randall February 12, 2010 (5:53 pm)

Society is to blame. Kids can’t be expected to simply not start fighting in the middle of a sporting contest.

arborheightsdad February 13, 2010 (7:49 am)

At the Sealth/Bainbridge game on the same night the police were asked to escort a Bainbridge parent from the game. Not as crazy as what happened at WSHS but just as inappropriate. I’m sure this parent’s child was very proud of him.

nunya February 13, 2010 (8:13 am)

It was a Bainbridge parent that was escorted out of the Sealth game. The other Bainbridge parents stood up and applauded for the guy as he left, nice example of the wealthy Islanders behaviour when they come and visit. They evidently don’t handle losing on the road. Sealth had beat them at home earlier in the Season.

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