Local Sports Journal
Both teams’ benches cleared midway through the fourth quarter of a girls basketball game on Thursday night.
Muskegon Heights Academy was leading Waypoint Academy 34-8 when the incident occurred with 4:23 remaining in the game.
According to Muskegon Heights Academy coach Tanjalyn Jackson, one of her players dove on the floor for a loose ball. A Waypoint also jumped in to gain possession of the ball.
“It started with a loose ball,” Waypoint coach Brian Clincy said in an email. “Our girl went to the ground for a jump ball … the Waypoint girl was the aggressor.”
A scuffle ensued between the girls on the floor.
“A fan ran on the court and Heights’ bench emptied,” said Clincy, who said the incident occurred right in front of the Heights players’ bench. “I ran on the court and my team tried to follow me around the scorer’s table. I turned around and sent them back to the bench and continued to get our player out of there.”
Clincy said he did not see any punches thrown.
“It was really a jump ball incident that moved two benches on the floor, where MHSAA rules pretty much eject the whole bench, plus our player who officials felt was the aggressor.”
Five players from Muskegon Heights Academy and seven from Waypoint Academy were ejected, according to Jackson.
