Seven high school basketball players suspended after benches-clearing brawl

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Seven Section II boys’ basketball players were slapped with one game suspensions on Thursday after a benches-clearing brawl broke out with under a minute remaining in Wednesday’s Suburban Council game between Shenendehowa and Saratoga.

Three of the suspended players hale from Saratoga and the remaining four from Shenendehowa.

Seven players to serve one game suspension from Wednesday’s @ShenHoops at @TogaAthletics
boys game for leaving bench. https://t.co/KRuGa7whKG pic.twitter.com/FzLkAhtVPC

— Stan Hudy (@stanhudy) December 14, 2017

Stan Hudy of the Community News covered the game and broke news of the suspensions:

Words were exchanged after a missed Shenendehowa jump shot, then some pushing of bodies. The subsequent altercation between players on the floor and bench players who ran into the scrum was broken up by school administrators from both districts on the floor and along the student sections.

 Saratoga Springs Athletic Director Peter Sheehan confirmed that three Blue Streak players will not be eligible for Friday’s home contest against Colonie High. Sheenan did not release the names of the suspended athletes, citing school policy.

“We have a very good working relationship with Shenendehowa and we compete in so many sports together that it’s important that we do have a cooperative relationship,” Sheehan said. “Last night was unfortunate but I understand the instinct of a player to try to help out a teammate that he believes may be in trouble, but the rules don’t allow for that.

After the brawl, an extended timeout was called as officials sorted the incident out. Two technical and another personal foul were handed out, and the Blue Streaks went on to take the contest 59-56.