Racial slurs spewed at Scarsdale v. East Ramapo girls basketball game, officials say

Scarsdale and East Ramapo school officials are investigating a reported racially charged incident during a Feb. 10 girls basketball game at Scarsdale. It's the latest investigation into slurs being spewed during a Section 1 sporting event.

"The girls varsity basketball game on Saturday between East Ramapo and Scarsdale was regrettably marred by the report of racial slurs directed at East Ramapo players," East Ramapo Superintendent Clarence G. Ellis, said Monday in a statement. "The use of racial epithets and other bigoted language meant to hurt someone based on their skin color have no place in high school athletics or anywhere in our community."

Schools launch probe, denounce hate

The two districts' athletic directors, Ray Pappalardi in Scarsdale and Greg Russo in East Ramapo, said East Ramapo's coach stopped the game, reporting that racially charged comments targeting East Ramapo players came from the stands during the game.

The varsity game was ended with four minutes left in the fourth quarter, according to East Ramapo officials.

In a joint statement, the ADs outlined an ongoing investigation that was launched soon after complaints were made.

"So far, this review has not identified a specific individual or group who engaged in any inappropriate conduct," the statement said. "Despite the absence of specific information, we view any act against the dignity of any student-athlete as unacceptable. I know that the Scarsdale and East Ramapo communities join us in denouncing all acts of hate."

The game was part of a Scarsdale-sponsored breast cancer awareness event and fundraiser for the V Foundation, established by ESPN and legendary basketball coach Jim Valvano to fund cancer research.

"Unfortunately, the game ended, the East Ramapo players left Scarsdale feeling dejected and disrespected, and a day intended to bring communities together for a common purpose was tainted," the ADs' statement said. "We were saddened by this outcome."

Todd Santabarbara, executive director of Section 1 Athletics, said that the districts are leading the investigation and the athletic organization will monitor that probe.

Section 1 formed policies and procedures for its 79 member schools to use when fans or athletes engage in acts "against the dignity" of others.

'We didn’t want to continue to play in that kind of environment'

Dejane Buckley, point guard on the East Ramapo team, was on the bench Saturday, on the mend from a torn ACL.

“I still went to the game to support my team,” said the Spring Valley sophomore who attends Rockland BOCES’ Hudson Valley P-TECH program. “When we got to Scarsdale, I thought it was a good environment.” The school was raising money for the cancer charity, Buckley said. “They gave us T-shirts.”

Things went well for the first three quarters, Buckley said. But the last quarter was problematic. A Scarsdale player started barking at them from the bench, Buckley said. “The coach was laughing.”

Then came the slurs. “Our coach realized that from the stands they were saying ‘Black N-words,’ ” Buckley said. East Ramapo’s coach called a timeout to the address it, Buckley said. There was some back and forth.

Then a witness stepped forward.

“A lady from Scarsdale, a teacher or administrator I think, said she heard everything,” Buckley recalled.

“We forfeited, we didn’t want to continue to play in that kind of environment,” Buckley said. As the team walked out, she said, they heard the slurs again.

It was the team’s last game of the season.

The girls had played Scarsdale Feb. 1 and everything was fine. But that was a home game, at Spring Valley High School. In that game, “none of this happened,” she said of the vile language.  “This is the first time I’m experiencing it first-hand. As Black kids, we are looked at differently and I’m not sure why.”

2 distinct districts

The Scarsdale "B" team was playing, according to Section 1's schedule; East Ramapo's Titans combines players from Ramapo and Spring Valley high schools.

Scarsdale has about 4,600 students enrolled. About 58% are white; 25% Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; 8% Hispanic or Latino and 1% Black or African American, according to New York State Education Department data.

About 11,000 public-school students are enrolled in East Ramapo, which encompasses the greater Spring Valley area in Rockland County. About 75% of students are Hispanic or Latino; 18% Black or African American; 2% Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; and 4% white.

Recent issues at school events

Discriminatory incidents have become increasingly common at Lower Hudson Valley high school athletic events. Among past reported incidents:

'Something is being done': Section 1 Athletics takes action after string of racist incidents

• At a Jan. 4 girls basketball game, Yonkers' Roosevelt High School players reportedly made antisemitic comments against players from Leffell School, a Jewish school in Hartsdale.

• During an Oct. 13, 2023 football game, an official from Lakeland school district reported racial epithets had been used against Nyack High School cheerleaders during halftime. The perpetrators appeared to be spectators. Nyack school officials said Lakeland officials had apologized.

• In February 2022, a Black Nyack varsity boys basketball player faced racist taunts during a game against Pearl River.

• An Ossining girls basketball player in February 2022 faced racist heckling that referenced her Latina heritage from the stands at Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie.

• Middle schoolers in the Nyack district were targeted in May of 2022 at two different track meets, district administrators reported. Among the accusations: That a Pearl River student used the "n-word" toward a Nyack competitor. The coach for the modified team led his athletes in a walkout.

"There's been a rash of these incidents," said Wilbur Aldridge, NAACP Mid-Hudson Valley regional director. "As far as I am concerned, it is a reflection of the home. Racism, discrimination is not innate. It's learned."

Nancy Cutler covers People & Policy for lohud.com and the USA Today Network New York. Reach her at ncutler@lohud.com; follow her on Twitter at @nancyrockland.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Scarsdale-East Ramapo basketball game racial slurs investigated