Four Memphis boys basketball programs get two-year postseason ban from TSSAA after brawls

Tom Kreager
The Commercial Appeal

Four Memphis high school boys basketball teams have been placed on restrictive probation by the state high school athletics association for the next two seasons and will not be eligible for postseason play in 2019 and 2020.

Boys basketball teams from Fairley, Melrose, Westwood and Wooddale may resume regular-season play but will not be permitted to play in the TSSAA postseason after the four were involved in brawls on Jan. 25. Any player or coach ejected must sit out two games, due to TSSAA rules.

Wooddale is ranked second in Class AA in this week's Associated Press statewide poll. Westwood is ranked seventh in Class A.

A third brawl on Jan. 25 involving the Sheffield and Overton girls did not result in either school being placed on restrictive probation. Both girls programs remain eligible for postseason play, but those ejected must sit out two games.

The boys fights occurred at Melrose against Wooddale and at Westwood against Fairley.

All four boys programs were fined $3,500 apiece, according to a letter from TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress to each school. 

If any unsportsmanlike incidents occur involving the boys basketball teams, the TSSAA will consider sanctioning the entire athletic program due to lack of control.

The boys basketball programs will be placed on restrictive probation effective Jan. 31, 2019. It will also include the 2019-20 school year.

Interim Shelby County Schools superintendent Joris Ray wrote in a tweet that he didn't believe the entire teams should be penalized.

"We're holding the few students involved accountable for recent incidents at games, but let's not penalize entire teams — most of those involved were adults, not students. As a community, we must model better for our students," Ray tweeted.

According to the TSSAA letter to Melrose and Wooddale officials, a fight broke out with 1:13 left after a Wooddale player was fouled. As he was headed to the free throw line, the Wooddale player tossed the ball at a Melrose player. In turn, the Melrose player threw the ball at the head of the Wooddale player. A different Wooddale player then grabbed the ball and hit the Melrose player in the head with the ball.

A fight then ensued with fans from both sides coming to the floor. Police used mace to regain control.

The TSSAA letter to Westwood and Fairley stated that the fight at Westwood began after the game when the teams were in the handshake line. An official blew a whistle to indicate a potential fight was about to occur after a player from Westwood and Fairley squared up. A Fairley coach jumped between the players. Fans then came onto the floor. The brawl took place at multiple places in the gym, and security officers were also hit by fans. 

Sheffield’s girls basketball program was fined $750 — $250 for coach Johnnie Stuckeys being ejected because of unsportsmanlike conduct, $250 for fans coming onto the court, and $250 for players coming off the bench during the fight. Overton was fined $250 for fans coming onto the court.

Reach Tom Kreager at tkreager@gannett.com or on Twitter @Kreager.

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