Watch: Altercation ends Maryland basketball playoff game
With a victory well in hand, early in the third quarter of an MPSSAA Class 2A boys basketball state quarterfinal playoff game on Friday, a Carver Vo-Tech player was driving for a layup when he was pushed to the ground from behind by a Queen Anne's player, video from the live stream of the game on NFHSA Network shows.
Carver led host Queen Anne's, 47-15, at the time of the incident, which led several Carver players to leave their bench and engage in some pushing and shoving with the Queen Anne's players. Parents and coaches also came onto the floor to separate the players and order was restored before a full brawl broke out.
2024 MPSSAA CLASS 2A BOYS BASKETBALL STATE TOURNAMENT BRACKET
After some discussion with both head coaches, the officials called the game at that point and declared Carver the winner. That was the good news for the Bears. The bad news is that, per MPSSAA rules, all of the players that left the bench will be suspended and unable to play in the Bears' state semifinal contest, on Tuesday at the University of Maryland, with Middletown.
"As of now, the only guys that are able to play are our five that were on the floor," Carver Vo-Tech head coach Alvin Parker told the Baltimore Sun. Parker also said the school is protesting the decision. The team also has the option to call up junior varsity players to play in the game.
Carver's Dorrian Sands, the player who was fouled prior to the incident, had scored 27 points to help the Bears establish their big lead. Carver (19-5) is bidding for its first state championship and already owns wins over last year's Class 3A state champion City College and Class 2A state champ New Town, which the Bears defeated in this year's regional finals.
