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Fans banned for Beaver Falls game vs. New Brighton
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If you're interested in seeing one of the top Class AA high school boys basketball teams in the state and their star player, don't think about attending the game today.
No fans are allowed.
The Beaver Falls at New Brighton game has been moved to 4 p.m. today and will be played without fans in attendance. The schools agreed to the move after a teenager was stabbed during a fight between students from both schools early Monday morning. The fight was in Beaver Falls, but not on school grounds.
"All I can say is we've taken this precaution because of events outside school involving youth from both communities," said David Petro, superintendent of the New Brighton Area School District.
The Beaver Falls at New Brighton girls game Monday also has been moved to 4 p.m. and will be played without fans.
"After the incident, we felt this was in the best interest of both schools involved," Beaver Falls athletic director Jim Carbone said.
Corey Jefferson, a seldom-used player on the Beaver Falls team, was arrested Wednesday and charged in connection with the stabbing of a teenager. He turned himself in to police and was charged with aggravated assault and simple assault. He has been kicked off the basketball team.
Some basketball players from Beaver Falls and New Brighton also have been suspended from their teams for participating in the fight.
Beaver Falls is the No. 2-ranked Class AA team in the state and features standout senior Sheldon Jeter, who has scholarship offers from Division I colleges. Beaver Falls was upset by Northgate, 63-54, Wednesday. Six Beaver Falls players did not play because of the suspension. Jeter played and scored 15 points.
"All I can say is six players were suspended for the game and for Friday's game for conduct not in the best interest of the basketball team," Beaver Falls coach Doug Biega said.
Petro would not say how many New Brighton players have been suspended.
For Beaver Falls, the loss to Northgate was the first section loss in 12 years to a team other than Aliquippa.
Closing a basketball game to fans is not an unprecedented event in the WPIAL or City League. In 2000, a Clairton-Duquesne boys game was played without fans and moved to Western Beaver because of past violence between the two rivals. School officials didn't tell players or coaches where the game would be played until the teams boarded buses the day of the game.
First Published January 27, 2012 12:00 am
