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IHSAA cancels seasons for teams after brawl

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The IHSAA canceled the rest of the season’s games for two boys basketball teams after a brawl in northwest Indiana.

The IHSAA announced Tuesday that Hammond and Griffith high schools won’t play the remainder of the 2014-15 season.

The game was called when Griffith was leading 4-0 in the first quarter. A brawl started when a Hammond player shoved a Griffith player. The shove emptied the benches of both teams, with coaches and players fighting. Police had to be called to bring order to the gym.

See the video from The Times (story continues below video).

In addition to the forfeiture, IHSAA outlined other consequences for the brawl.

Both teams must pay a $500 forfeiture fee to each school they were scheduled to play the rest of the year. Next month’s state tournament will be restructured, as well. It will be a five-team tournament.

Coaches involved in the game will be required to complete a course called Teaching and Modeling Behavior. All varsity athletes will be required to complete a course, as well. Theirs is called Sportsmanship.

For next school year, both teams will be on probation. As a result, any violation of rules next school year could result in the revocation of membership in the IHSAA.