Fight in crowd halts Buchtel versus East boys basketball game Friday night in Akron
Multiple students engaged in a fight Friday night during an Akron Public Schools boys basketball game between East and host Buchtel.
The fight started in the crowd and spilled onto the court, which stopped a close game with about seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Akron Public Schools athletic directors Joe Vassalotti and Ron Linger said none of the Buchtel or East players were involved in the fight.
Vassalotti said players from each team "went to the same locker room when play was suspended."
Pepper spray was deployed into the air to help stop the fight.
The game did not resume and is set to be completed later this season at a time, date and location to be determined.
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Buchtel was leading East 46-45 when the fight started.
East led 11-10 at the end of the first quarter and Buchtel was ahead 24-22 at halftime and 44-43 through three quarters.
Buchtel (4-2, 3-0) and East (6-0, 3-0) are the top two teams in the City Series.
Vassalotti said players "joined arms in unity at midcourt during the national anthem prior to tipoff" Friday.
East returned to action Saturday night and earned a 60-54 home win over Jackson.
Buchtel did not have a game scheduled Saturday.
Article from March 2022:Video footage shows fight at Buchtel-East game. Police investigating, no arrests made
Buchtel defeated East four times last season en route to City Series regular season and postseason championships and a Division II district final appearance.
The fourth game last season on March 2 ended when a fight broke out on the court between Buchtel and East players in a district semifinal at North Ridgeville High School.
Fans poured onto the floor and it took a while before police restored order.
The Griffins were ahead 53-32 with 2.5 seconds left in the third quarter and both teams were escorted to their respective locker rooms after referees halted the action.
Multiple Buchtel and East players were ejected and suspended.
The Northeast District Athletic Board decided on March 3 to allow Buchtel to advance to a Division II district final on March 5, which it lost to Gates Mills Gilmour Academy at North Ridgeville High School.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Fight in crowd Friday halts Buchtel versus East boys basketball game
