MOUNDS, IL (KFVS) -
Several fights
reportedly broke out after a basketball game
at the regional basketball tournament Wednesday night at Meridian High School.
According to
Superintendent Terry Moreland with Meridian School District, the fights broke
out when the Cairo-Meridian game ended. He says the fights began in the lobby.
According to
Pulaski County Sheriff Randy Kern, around 10 fights broke out in lobby, gym and
outside of the building. Sheriff Kern says, it was "One fight after
another, and the place went crazy after that."
Century and
Egyptian schools were reportedly getting ready to play, but the game was
canceled.
The
superintendent says there were no serious injuries, and deputies were already
on location. Sheriff Kern says one student had a broken hand. Superintendent
Moreland called it a very bad situation.
According to
Cairo Superintendent, Andrea Evers, there were two adult spectators fighting.
She says they were not students of either school district.
Evers says it
was an unfortunate situation that spiraled. She feels
both teams played a wonderfully controlled basketball game and the incident is disappointing all around.
According to
Evers, who attended the game, her full focus was on her students and her
players getting back safely to the community. She said the school's bus was
escorted by the police department as the bus took them home last night. No
players walked home last night alone. Their bus was met by authorities to make
sure the kids were safe.
"My heart
is very heavy this morning because a wonderfully well-played basketball game is
being over shadowed by pockets of violence and aggression not related to the
players on the court," said Evers. "On behalf of our school district,
we will continue to expect the best conduct from all players, participants and
spectators."
"It's sad
that it will be the schools, both Meridian and Cairo, and students who end up
looking bad over this when it fact it was adults who started all the
trouble," said Alexander County Sheriff Tim Brown. "The students and
players had nothing to do with the chaos that started."
Brown says all
matters of law enforcement are being handled by Pulaski County since it was on
their turf.
There's no word
if games will be played tonight.
The sheriff says
arrests are pending.
Copyright 2013 KFVS. All rights reserved.
(Source: Isaac Smith, Editor-In-Chief-The Cairo Citizen)
(Source: Isaac Smith, Editor-In-Chief-The Cairo Citizen)
(Source: Isaac Smith, Editor-In-Chief-The Cairo Citizen)
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