A Massachusetts high school basketball player is facing a criminal charge after assaulting a referee during a game Wednesday night at Cohasset High School.
The Cohasset Police Department announced that a 16-year-old boy from Excel High School in South Boston, who will no longer be identified due to his age, is charged with one count of assault and battery after “hitting” the referee.
Police Chief William Quigley said the teen will appear in Quincy Juvenile Court for a justification hearing at a later date.
Boston 25 News reported that Cohasset Public Schools Superintendent Patrick Sullivan said the player allegedly punched the referee in the face after thinking he was called for another foul when the referee called Cohasset for traveling.
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL GAME BREAKS UP IN A FIGHT WHEN REFEREE GETS BODY PUNCHED BY SPECTATOR, FUCKED BY PLAYER
A Google Earth image shows the exterior of Cohasset Middle-High School in Cohasset, Massachusetts.
(Google Earth)
The well-known photographer in the area, Dan Leahy, would have witnessed the altercation.
“From my periphery I see a South Boston player approaching the baseline, I figured he was going to get the ball. In fact, he lunged at an official and gave him a full nelson right off the head. What the ref brought up down, and he kept going physical against this poor umpire who was bent over and couldn’t defend himself,” Leahy told Boston 25.
“There’s so much pent-up anger to attack an authority figure like that. And it was cruel, not like he went up and punched him or anything like that. He came at him with a full fist, it’s a shame,” he added. .
Cohasset police said officers responded to an assault in the gym at 6:45 p.m. Upon arrival, officers cleared the gym and the game immediately ended. No one else was involved in the assault besides the lone Excel player.
The referee did not require medical attention, police said.
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The president of the Massachusetts State Basketball Officials Association (MSBOA) said they are angry and frustrated by this incident, but not shocked.
In a statement issued to Boston 25, the MSBOA said:
“The shortage of officials, both in our state and across the country, has been well-documented. And while there may be any number of reasons for the crisis, the abhorrent treatment of officials by fans, coaches and players is at the top of the list.And while most high school sports stakeholders don’t fall into that category, the sad reality is that incidents like this keep happening.
“We call on local law enforcement, Boston Public Schools and MIAA to take swift action that includes appropriate punishment for anyone who shares responsibility for this dangerous attack. It is not up to us to determine what those sanctions will look like, but we are positive that they must be proportional to the pure and unprovoked violence of the act.
“Unfortunately, discontent and outright anger towards officials has escalated to a completely unacceptable level, which can result in an attack like Cohasset’s. That is wrong and needs to be addressed.”
Detailed view of Nike basketball on the court.
(Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
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Excel High School Principal Jerleen John told Boston 25 that the student in question could face disciplinary action in accordance with the Boston Public Schools code of conduct.
Police said the altercation remains under investigation.
