A fight between boys basketball players from Hudson’s Bay and Mountain View high schools following their game Saturday night resulted in injuries and disciplinary action, although officials from both schools were vague on many of the details.
The Columbian has confirmed that three Hudson’s Bay athletes have been disciplined. Citing privacy laws, Mick Hoffman, the athletic director and safety director of Vancouver Public Schools, said he could not be more specific.
Two Mountain View players hurt in the melee did not play Tuesday night because of their injuries, according to school principal Mike Meloy. A female Mountain View student manager who got caught up in the altercation also required medical attention.
Vancouver police have started an investigation, but as of Wednesday there were no charges filed.
“Most of the time, in these types of cases, it’s often referred to the juvenile prosecutors and they’ll make a decision on whether they want to bring someone to court,” said Kim Kapp, spokeswoman for Vancouver Police.
According to sources, the fight occurred approximately 30 minutes after the Thunder topped Hudson’s Bay 56-54 at Mountain View High School. The game itself was physical, with plenty of emotional swings. After the contest, facility officials had to deal with unruly fans. Later, when the Hudson’s Bay team was leaving MVHS, there were three Mountain View players nearby.
Words were exchanged — the confrontation was captured on security cameras but there is no audio available — before it escalated into a brawl. A coach from each school was present but they were unsuccessful in their effort to stop the fight.
“Trash talk got out of hand between players from both teams long after the game,” said Jeanne Shults, the athletic director at Hudson’s Bay. “Hudson’s Bay disciplined the players involved, and we’re working with the team on sportsmanship issues.”
“There were some people who made poor decisions after the game,” said Bill Oman, Bay’s principal.
Meloy would not confirm nor deny disciplinary action for his students at Mountain View.
“Bay can handle their kids, and we’ll handle our kids,” he said, adding that it was a “terrible situation.”
There are conflicting reports on who instigated the confrontation. Meloy said several factors led to the fight.
“Any number of points that one might say if that was not in place, the results would have been different,” he said. “The emotional nature of the game, the emotional nature of the post-game (with the unruly fans), the comments made a half-hour later, and with the decision to make it physical rather than move on.”
Both teams played other opponents Tuesday night shorthanded. There were Hudson’s Bay players who were in the boxscore from Saturday night’s game who were not listed as playing in Tuesday’s game against Kelso.
Hudson’s Bay and Mountain View are scheduled to play again Jan. 28 at Hudson’s Bay.
“Our No. 1 priority is always the safety of our kids,” Meloy said. “It will remain that.”
Hoffman said both schools will take steps to ensure the competition stays within the rules on the court, and that once the game ends, it is over.
“As adults, we need to teach kids how to go from emotional competition back to being good citizens,” Hoffman said. “This is a learning opportunity for all of us.”
