The Watkins Glen vs. Moravia post-game: What happened?

Mar 06, 2015 at 03:05 pm by Observer-Review


SPORTS

The Watkins Glen vs. Moravia post-game: What happened?

WATKINS GLEN-On Wednesday, March 4 the Watkins Glen Senecas defeated the Blue Devils from Moravia 51-46 in the boys Class C Section IV semifinal playoff game.
The winner of the basketball game is clear. The actions after the game are not so clear.
On Wednesday, after Watkins Glen won the game the students did rush the court to celebrate the victory. That's when the problems started. The complete details of exactly what happened and who did what to whom may never be fully known.
The Auburn Citizen reported that a fight broke out and that Moravia players were shoved to the ground. Syracuse.com posted a story with a headline that reads, "Parents behaving badly: Chaos ignited as Watkins Glen students storm court." Schuyler County media outlets, including online, television and print that were covering the game did not initially report about the post-game events.
The photographer for the Watkins Glen REVIEW&EXPRESS newspaper, was filming a video segment of the celebrating Seneca fans and players after the game.
From this video, a Moravia player, #3 (listed on the team roster as Cole Johnson), was trying to exit the cheering and yelling group of Watkins Glen fans - and then pushes a person to the floor. The video is posted below, but ends before the crowd dispersed. Additional video posted Friday to YouTube shows at least two people approaching the Moravia player as he walks to the team bench. Close contact and pushing is seen before the video ends.
Watkins Glen Central School Superintendent Thomas J. Phillips said in a telephone interview on Friday, March 6 , "We have re-thought the whole thing . . . and we want to get the visiting players off the floor first and then let our fans greet the Watkins Glen players. I'm aware of the balance needed to allow fans to celebrate and to keep all players safe and that is our job to be sure that happens. We will do that. We are going to keep people off of the floor. The last couple games, the Newfield game and this game, the bleacher crew did get on to the floor."
"The other issue is, nobody has the setup we have, so you know, they can't do what we do," said Phillips referring to the student bleacher section on the south baseline of the court. "So we do something different and we're being criticized . . . do we need to control that section as far as keeping them away from the opposing players, yes we do and we will."

Moravia Superintendent of Schools Michelle Brantner was not immediately available for comment.



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