The Georgia High School Association disqualified two girls basketball teams from the state tournament Wednesday after a “shocking” fight ended their first-round game Tuesday night in Jesup.
Wayne County was playing Spalding in a Class 4A game when the fight began with 3:46 left in the second quarter.
“Basically it was a bench-clearing brawl,” GHSA executive director Robin Hines said. “It was shocking and egregious and totally unacceptable, and the GHSA isn’t going to allow that to happen without serious consequences.”
Social-media posts showed the extent of the incident.
This is the first double-forfeit in state tournament history, which dates to 1922, according to Becky Taylor of the Georgia High School Basketball Project.
Hines said further penalties to the schools are forthcoming, but would not speculate on those or comment further amid an ongoing investigation.
GHSA rules call for a one-game suspension for any players who leave the bench during an altercation. Hines said that neither team had enough eligible players to advance to the second round.
Starr’s Mill, bracketed to face the Spalding-Wayne County winner, will advance with a bye to the quarterfinals.
State-tournament forfeits are rare, but two years ago, Savannah schools Beach and Savannah were banned from the state tournament after a fight erupted in a region tournament game.
A Griffin-Spalding County Schools spokesperson said: “Griffin-Spalding County Schools is aware of an incident that occurred during the Spalding High vs. Wayne County girls basketball game last evening in Wayne County. We are investigating the situation and will address it according to our policies and procedures, GHSA rules and our student code of conduct.”
The Spalding boys’ team faces Burke County in a state tournament first-round game on Wednesday.
The statement continued: “As for tonight’s home boys playoff basketball game at Spalding High School, we do have a safety and security plan that we follow for all home games. It involves screening of fans upon entry, uniformed law enforcement officers, school officials and game officials who are present during the game to ensure safety for all.”
- Staff writer Fletcher Page contributed to this report.
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