A total of seven players were suspended after a brawl erupted on the court Monday night, disrupting a girls basketball match between Canton McKinley and St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron. The altercation involved several players from both teams under a basket following a foul called on a McKinley player with 6:36 left in the third […]
A total of seven players were suspended after a brawl erupted on the court Monday night, disrupting a girls basketball match between Canton McKinley and St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron.
The altercation involved several players from both teams under a basket following a foul called on a McKinley player with 6:36 left in the third quarter, while the home team STVM was ahead 35-15.
Players began shoving each other before a few punches were thrown. The confrontation moved to the bleachers by the baseline near STVM’s bench, and one of the three referees was knocked to the ground while attempting to resolve the situation.
Coaches and players rushed over to break up the fight, and about a dozen spectators entered the court as refs attempted to restore order by blowing their whistles.
After some time, calmer minds prevailed, allowing STVM and McKinley to complete the game, with the Irish emerging victorious 67-32.
STVM played the last 14:36 of the game with just three players, while McKinley finished with five — nonetheless, the Irish still managed to outscore the Bulldogs 32-17 in that time.
McKinley athletic director Joe Bogdan and STVM athletic director Kyle Sasala verified to the Akron Beacon Journal on Thursday that the referees submitted a report to the Ohio High School Athletic Association regarding the incident.
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Responses from athletic directors Kyle Sasala and Joe Bogdan regarding the girls basketball brawl involving St. Vincent-St. Mary and Canton McKinley
Sasala noted that the altercation began after a McKinley player was penalized for an “off-the-ball hard foul” against a STVM player.
“The game was proceeding well,” Sasala stated. “It was competitive, without any instigation or harsh fouls. Essentially, it was a normal game until one event escalated swiftly, leading to chaos. We absolutely do not endorse fighting at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, and we have addressed the matter with those involved in the fight.
“There was nothing that preceded it. It was a freak occurrence amidst heightened emotions, which spiraled out of control.”
Bogdan explained that three players from McKinley received two-game suspensions for leaving the bench, while two players were suspended for four games due to fighting.
“One of our girls pushed one of theirs in the back, according to the report, and then one of their girls attempted to hit one of our players, which triggered the escalation,” Bogdan explained. “The referees indicated that there was no sign of any brewing conflict during the match. Everything was going smoothly.”
Sasala mentioned that two players from STVM were also suspended for four games due to fighting. He added that other STVM players were initially ejected from the game, but those ejections were overturned after officials reviewed the video, and those players received no suspensions.
“We finished the game with three on our side versus five from theirs,” Sasala noted. “Originally, five of our players were ejected for leaving the bench. … The situation was quite unusual, making it challenging for the officials to accurately identify who was on the bench when so many people were around.
“Ultimately, they decided to continue with three against five. I’m not sure how they reached that conclusion, but that was the outcome. After reviewing the footage and going through the events again, we ended up with only two suspensions.”
Both Bogdan and Sasala expressed their appreciation for how McKinley coach Ryan Gracia and STVM coach Carley Whitney managed to help their teams calm down and refocus following the incident. Bogdan has had discussions with Gracia and his staff, while Sasala has spoken with Whitney and her team.
“We did our best to de-escalate the situation,” Sasala said. “It took some time. We wanted to ensure that the fans were controlled and that the student-athletes were safe, as well as the environment being secure for continued play. We managed to bring the situation under control.
“As mentioned, it took a bit of time. I collaborated closely with the officials, reaching an agreement that we would proceed with the game, which we did, and then we moved on.”
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St. Vincent-St. Mary secures girls basketball victory with three players on the court
Sasala mentioned that the three STVM players who remained in the game against McKinley for the last 14:36 were Kendal Batchik, Melania Cornute, and Tatum Smith. Batchik scored 26 points, Cornute added 19 points, and Smith contributed 16 points.
“The coaches from McKinley were very professional, and for the most part, the players were as well,” Sasala remarked. “I don’t foresee any issues with maintaining our relationship with McKinley, considering we compete against them in other sports and have not encountered problems in the past.”
Sasala informed that the two STVM players who were suspended began serving their penalties on Wednesday night during a game that the Irish won 59-32 against Youngstown Ursuline.
“We do not support fighting,” Sasala emphasized. “Our institution is one of high respect, morals, and character. Clearly, this is not the behavior we endorse, and it doesn’t reflect our school, our girls’ basketball program, or those who were suspended.
“… It was an impulsive act in the heat of the moment. They have certainly learned from this experience.”
Bogdan shared that McKinley’s five suspended players started their suspensions on Wednesday night in a game that Green won 64-46.
“There are many younger players on the team, and it’s still early in the season, so we’re reminding them that they cannot step onto the court during conflicts,” Bogdan explained. “People get emotional, tempers flare, and it’s natural to want to protect teammates, but remaining on the bench is essential. If they had adhered to that, we would have likely had only one ejection.”
Mya Taylor led McKinley with 18 points against STVM, with Ka’Myah Gisentaner adding seven points.
“Their administration did an excellent job communicating with us, and our coaches have been in touch as well,” Bogdan stated. “This unfortunate incident presents a chance for everyone to learn and grow from it, turning it into a meaningful teaching moment for the kids.
“… It caught everyone by surprise and is indeed an unfortunate event. There’s absolutely no lingering resentment.”
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.
