PIAA Basketball Playoffs: Fight erupts following contest
PIAA Basketball Playoffs: Fight erupts following contest
Players battle after Jeannette victory
Jeannette star Terrelle Pryor was one of many players involved in the fight, although Hempfield assistant coach Rob Stauffer, who was escorting North Catholic to the locker room, told state police he held Pryor back during the altercation. Numerous players from both teams also were involved and police were on the scene after the game investigating the incident. Police said last night the incident, so far, is being treated as a disturbance and no criminal charges have been filed.
North Catholic coach Dave Long claimed Jeannette's team came at his team in a hallway near the North Catholic locker room shortly after the game. He was yelling to police in the hallway after the incident.
Long acknowledged some things said on the court by players during the game and in the handshake line might have played a part in the fight.
"Obviously, there were some exceptions to some things that were said upstairs [during the game and in the handshake line]," Long said. "Obviously, you're dealing with 18-year-olds who are highly emotional. It wasn't a pretty scene."
Pryor said Joe Long, the son of North Catholic's coach and a junior forward, called him a name in the handshake line. Pryor was visibly upset and was held back by teammates from going toward North Catholic's team.
Pryor also said the fight started after a North Catholic player "said some things to us" while Jeannette's team was walking to its locker room in the bottom level of Hempfield's gymnasium. Pryor said other Jeannette players claimed a North Catholic player used a racial slur.
PIAA Basketball Playoffs: Fight erupts following contest