GAME INTERRUPTED BY DOZENS OF FIST FIGHTS - Activities Commission Investigating

(03/10/2003)
The basketball game got a little too serious.

Mount Hope and Meadow Bridge duked it out during a heated sectional semi-final playoff game Friday night. The fracas started when two players got into an altercation with 13 seconds left in the third period.

The incident caused the benches to clear with spectators from bleachers joining in dozens of fist fights on the gym floor at Liberty Raleigh High School.

After the fighting calmed down, a Raleigh County sheriff's deputy announced to the crowd. "Go home, the game is over!" The outcome of the game was in question.

School officials reported the incident to SSAC Executive Secretary Mike Hayden, who is currently looking into the matter. Disciplinary action is expected to result from the incident against students and the teams.