A fight among fans at halftime of a boys basketball game Wednesday at Crane resulted in the suspension of the Cougars’ game against visiting Manley.
None of the individuals involved in the fight appeared to be students from either school, Crane Principal Melver Scott said. About 500 fans were in attendance.
No weapons appeared to be involved, said Jerry Newsome, Manley’s director of security who was at the game.
About 10 police officers helped 14 security members remove dozens of spectators from the gymnasium. A police department official said no arrests were made.
Students remained in the gym while players were escorted off the floor.
“After the fight, we wanted to keep the students in the stands for their own safety and clear everybody else out of the building,” Scott said.
Crane officials believe the fight stemmed from a previous violent incident near the school.
Players and coaches from both schools were willing to finish the Public Red West game, but the referees already had left the building. Crane led 27-21 at halftime. School officials said the Public League office would schedule the game’s completion, possibly by Thursday.
“I’d prefer to finish the game and play it at a neutral site,” Manley coach Bo Delaney said.
It was the second time in a year that an incident marred a Crane game. On Jan. 8, 2002, referees ended a game between Crane and Westinghouse with 13 seconds left in overtime after a near-riot broke out in Crane’s gymnasium when police confronted a spectator with a gun. It was determined later that the gun was not loaded.
A violent incident occurred at Westinghouse last month when a fan punched a Marshall player during a game. The player, Brandon Johnson, sustained a concussion.
Joe Mantone.
Simeon 54, Morgan Park 41: The No. 8 Wolverines (8-3, 2-0) built a 21-19 halftime lead, then erupted for 21 third-quarter points to run away with the Public Red South contest. Calvin Brock and Jonathan Chatman scored 13 and 12 points, respectively, for the winners.
Carver 66, Harlan 64: Henry Cooper had 38 points for the Challengers (5-8, 1-1) in the Public Red South.
Farragut 69, Austin 46: Ollie Bailey’s 19 points led Farragut (5-7, 2-0) in the Public Red West.
Julian 69, Fenger 37: The Jaguars (9-6, 2-0) rolled in the Public Red South as Brandon Ewing scored 14 points and Jim Brown added 13 points. Julian led by just two points with two minutes to play in the first half before T.J. Gray’s three-pointer ignited an 11-3 run for a 31-21 halftime advantage.
Prosser 67, Steinmetz 63: Jason Bowden scored 30 points for the Falcons (8-4, 1-1) in the Public Red North-West. Bowden, who had 16 points in the fourth quarter, finished with his fifth consecutive 30-plus scoring game.
Westinghouse 82, Orr 63: DeAndre Thomas put in 27 points while Byron Booker added 12 points off the bench for the Warriors (7-4, 2-0) in the Public Red North-West.
Girls basketball
Fenwick 87, Joliet Catholic 70: Erin Lawless put in 19 points to go with Traci Pawlak’s 17 as the No. 2 Friars (15-1, 3-0) cruised in the East Suburban Catholic.
Joliet Catholic (9-8, 1-2) trailed 40-31 at the half and faced a 26-point deficit in the final quarter despite getting a 40-point effort from Allie Quigley.
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Fenwick starters Brittany Johnson and Nicole Rivera each left the game in the second quarter with injuries. Rivera sustained an apparent concussion after hitting her head on the floor while going for a loose ball. Fenwick coach Dave Power said she was taken to Northwestern Hospital after the game.
While driving for a layup, Johnson was fouled and fell on her knee. Her injury is being evaluated by a school doctor.
“My mind is racing about the injuries,” Power said. “We have a tough part of the season coming up and we could be without three starters.”
Breanne Smilie, another starter, did not play because of a lingering ankle injury sustained at the Dundee-Crown holiday tournament Dec. 28.
Fenton tournament: Aubrey Hampton poured in 31 points and Brittany Marshall added 22 points on 9-of-9 shooting from the field as No. 14 Oak Park (17-1) downed Willowbrook 64-48. . . . Emilie Hirt led No. 16 Hersey (11-4) with 13 points, including five of her team’s 10 in the fourth quarter, as the Huskies held off Vernon Hills 60-54.
Dundee-Crown 59, McHenry 49: Erin Griffin’s 18 points led the Chargers (12-3, 7-0) in the Fox Valley.
Hillcrest 69, Bremen 34: Nikita Odom’s 16 points and 10 rebounds led Hillcrest (13-2, 4-0) in the SICA Central.