ASHSAA Boys Varsity Basketball championship game ends in melee

Last Friday evening at the Samoana High School Auditorium, this year’s American Samoa High School Athletic Association Boys Varsity Basketball Championship Game was being played out between the Tafuna Warriors and the Samoana Sharks, when in the 4th period it came to an abrupt halt.
 
With just under three minutes left in the game and the Warriors ahead by 13 points, the lights in the gymnasium went out and at that moment the Samoana fans, which mainly consisted of the school’s students, went into a ‘frenzy’ — rushing onto the court towards the side where the Warrior fans were, that included not only students but young children, parents and some elderly people as well. Coaches from both teams went on to the court to try and stop the rush.
 
During the melee that ensued, an object was thrown from the side where the Samoana students were, striking an elderly man on the side of the head. He required immediate medical assistance that was given to him by the Emergency Medical Service.
 
The Department of Public Safety and Fire Department were soon on hand to try and keep the situation from getting out of control. The lights were restored about thirty minutes after they were shut off and it took about another thirty minutes for the DPS, along with the coaches, to get the Tafuna players and their supporters safely on to buses. The buses were escorted back to Tafuna High School.
 
 “This is really disgusting. We come here to watch a basketball game and this happens. It is really disgusting,” said a spectator to Samoa News.
 
Samoa News is waiting on ASHSAA to release the official results of the championship game, but notes that Tafuna High School is the unofficial winner of the 2013-14 ASHSAA Boys Varsity Championship Game and season.