DOWAGIAC, Mich. (WNDU/Gray News) – Police in Michigan said players and a coach of a losing high school basketball team threw multiple objects at a referee during a playoff game, including a basketball and water bottles.
The game Wednesday night in Dowagiac was the district semifinal playoffs between Benton Harbor High School and Buchanan High School.
Right after Buchanan won the game 39-36, a video obtained by WNDU shows someone throwing a basketball at one of the referee’s heads, hitting him. Then, at least three water bottles are thrown at the referee, and he falls to the ground.
The video shows the referee being helped up by police officers, who then escorted him out of the gym.
The referee was reportedly also hit by a notebook in the hallway as he tried to leave the building.
The Dowagiac Police Department says it has identified players and a coach from Benton Harbor who threw the objects at the referee.
Police identified the suspects as players and a coach one day after Benton Harbor school officials suggested the fans in the crowd were to blame for the incident.
Initially, Benton Harbor school officials said their student-athletes were not involved and commended their “outstanding sportsmanship and composure throughout this challenging situation.”
However, in an updated statement, Benton Harbor Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Kelvin Butts says the district is taking the allegations seriously and will take appropriate action once the investigation is complete.
Police said some parents and fans may have also been involved. They are still attempting to identify other people responsible.
Dowagiac police say charges are being sought.
Police said there was no foul play on the Buchanan side.
According to The Herald-Palladium, the attacks against the referee happened after Benton Harbor was called for 22 fouls in the game, while Buchanan was only called for eight.
Corey Sterling, the Benton Harbor basketball coach, told The Herald-Palladium after the game that it was the worst officiating crew he’s seen in 20 years of coaching at the school.
“I usually don’t blame the refs, but this was the worst referee crew I’ve had in my total of 20 years of coaching here,” Sterling said.
A Michigan High School Athletic Association spokesperson told WNDU that game officials file a report anytime there’s a situation like this, but they are still waiting on the official report.
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