NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio (JMN Sports) – The Division II North Ridgeville boys’ basketball District semifinal between Akron Buchtel and Akron East was suspended on Wednesday when a fight between the two teams broke out.
Buchtel was leading the contest, 52-35, with 2.5 seconds left in the third quarter when the fight occurred. Fans spilled onto the court and both teams were escorted to their locker rooms as order was restored.
“The OHSAA and the Northeast District Board will review the video and the officials’ reports,” said Jeff Cassella, Northeast District Athletic Board interim secretary and spokesman, to the Akron-Beacon Journal. “Once we receive all that information, we’ll gather in the morning and make a determination as to what we’re going to do.”
Officials will look at video review to determine the fate of the remainder of the contest.
Should the contest carry out with a Buchtel victory – either via forfeit or a pick-up of the game in the future – the Griffins would move on to play in the District final, scheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m. The winner of the contest will play either No. 3 Gilmour or No. 11 Shaw.