The athletic director at Monessen High School said he was "deeply disappointed" after a Friday night brawl at a varsity boys' basketball game led to at least four arrests and forced officials to remove more than 1,500 spectators at halftime.

The team and its opponents, from Washington High School, had to finish the game in a near-empty gymnasium.

Athletic Director John Sacco said Saturday night that he plans to meet with police and district officials this morning to review surveillance videos of the incident and to figure out how to proceed.

Monessen police would not comment on the matter.

The fight began in the hallway at around 8 p.m. during the game's halftime break. Mr. Sacco said he did not witness the actual confrontation because he was busy trying to push members of the crowd away from the fight and back into the gymnasium.

"I heard someone say 'fight,' and I immediately got a policeman and we went to the other end of the hall," he said. "Myself and another coach from Washington district tried to get people out of the hallway and back into the gym."

Members of both teams were in the locker room when the fight broke out, though some of the Monessen players had started to come onto the court and apparently had to be restrained for reasons that aren't clear, Mr. Sacco said. Another man in the gymnasium was also arrested, though Mr. Sacco said the fight was by and large contained to the hallway.

The situation was contained within a few minutes, Mr. Sacco said, who commended Monessen police, who were already there for security detail, and event staff for acting quickly.

Officials removed about 1,600 spectators, leaving only the coaches, referees, scorekeepers, the announcer and a handful of district officials to remain to watch the second half of the game. Members of the media were also allowed to remain.

Mr. Sacco said reports of the fight have been exaggerated and said he wouldn't characterize it as a "riot," as some witnesses have. Still, he said in his five years as athletic director, there hasn't been a fight of this magnitude.

"I'm deeply disappointed because it's my school and Washington is my alma mater," he said. "At the same time, I'm very happy with how we were prepared for it."

Washington beat Monessen, 71-52.

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