Police charge 16-year-old with punching basketball referee during Cohasset game

Mary Whitfill, The Patriot Ledger
·2 min read
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COHASSET − A 16-year-old Boston high school student is facing a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery after police say he punched a referee in the face during a Cohasset basketball game.

Cohasset Police Chief William Quigley said in a statement that the teen assaulted the referee in the gym of Cohasset High on Wednesday. The Cohasset boys basketball team was playing a game against Excel High School from Boston at the time.

The game was immediately canceled, and the gym was cleared. The referee did not require medical attention and no Cohasset players were involved.

"There is no place for violence of any kind in a school and we are thankful that the victim in this incident was not seriously injured," Quigley said in the statement.

The teenager will be scheduled to appear in Quincy Juvenile Court for a show cause hearing at a later date. Because the suspect in this case is a juvenile, no further information will be provided, Quigley said.

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The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association used the incident to condemn the use of "violence or physical anger in sports. The MIAA said its "students play the game for the love of the sport. Behaviors that run contrary to this have no place on our athletic fields, courts or hockey rinks."

"Our officials work to create an environment for competition that is fair and unbiased. Their professional efforts are to the best of their ability and exercised with experience and understanding of the rules of the game," the organization said. "Officials must be treated with respect at all times."

Boston 25 reported that the head of Excel High School, Jerleen John, confirmed the student could face disciplinary action in accordance with the Boston Public Schools code of conduct.

“Excel boys basketball team member engaged in a physical altercation with a referee during a game against Cohasset,” John said in a statement. “School staff responded immediately, along with Cohasset police, to provide assistance and de-escalate the situation. The involved student could face disciplinary action.”

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Reach Mary Whitfill at mwhitfill@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Police: Basketball referee punched in the face during Cohasset game