A boys high school basketball game between Half Hollow Hills West and Comsewogue came to an abrupt halt Thursday night when a brawl broke out on the court — which quickly escalated to involve spectators — with 44 seconds remaining in the contest.
Half Hollow Hills West was leading 63–52, had possession of the ball on the offensive end of the floor, and was on the verge of sealing its eighth straight win to remain undefeated when a scuffle erupted under the basket.
According to NFHS Network video reviewed by Greater Long Island, the altercation began between Comsewogue’s No. 22 and a Half Hollow Hills West player whose jersey number is not visible in the footage.
The two became tangled beneath the rim and quickly began striking each other. A second Comsewogue player was the first to join the fight, helping push the confrontation toward a doorway exiting the gym.
A referee stepped in between the players in an attempt to separate them, but the confrontation continued as the group was pushed toward the exit, nearly spilling outside.
As the altercation escalated, other players, adults wearing security jackets, and adult and young fans ran onto the court from the stands.
While both benches emptied, some adults on the floor prevented bench players from joining the melee, though many of the players already on the court were caught up in the chaos, which remained concentrated in a central knot of bodies near the baseline.
At one point, more than a dozen people — including players, referees, security personnel, and spectators — were crowded into the middle of the melee. The video shows officials struggling to maintain separation as shouting and pushing continued around them.
During the chaos, an adult spectator sprinted toward the brawl and struck a Comsewogue player violently from behind, according to the video. That player later broke free from the crowd and was seen walking and stumbling around holding his head in apparent pain as order slowly began to return.
The fight appeared to break up after about 20 seconds and was in the process of being brought under control.
It is unclear if the game continued after the incident. The final score was the same score at the time the fight broke out. Half Hollow Hills West improved to 8–0 on the season, while Comsewogue fell to 4–4.
Greater Long Island has been unable to reach the coaches from either team for comment. The news outlet has also contacted Comsewogue Athletic Director Matteo DiVincenzo and will update this story when school officials or coaches respond.
Top: GLI stock photo via Unsplash.
