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Suffolk Police are investigating allegations that a parent from Half Hollow Hills West High School assaulted a Comsewogue player during a wild brawl that broke out late in a boys varsity basketball game last week.
Police confirmed to Greater Long Island that a report of a person being punched during the Thursday night game was given to police on Friday and remains under investigation.
Video footage reviewed by Greater Long Island show the altercation began as a skirmish between a Comsewogue player and a Half Hollow Hills West player before quickly escalating and pulling in multiple players from both teams and spectators.
UPDATE: Wheatley Heights man arrested and charged with assault for allegedly storming the court during brawl and punching a player
In a statement this weekend, the Comsewogue School District said that at one point during the chaos, a parent from Half Hollow Hills West struck a Comsewogue player.
“Law enforcement was contacted and they are actively investigating that incident,” the district said.
It is unclear if police have reviewed the video, which was captured by the streaming platform, NFHS Network.
Fight started with seconds left in game
The fight erupted with 44 seconds remaining in Thursday night’s game at Half Hollow Hills West and Hills West leading 63-52.
The video shows more than a dozen people packed into the center of the melee near the baseline as officials and security personnel struggled to separate those involved. Amid the shouting, shoving and scrambling bodies, one Comsewogue player was struck hard from behind by a male adult; the child was later seen walking and stumbling while holding his head.
Comsewogue officials said the district is conducting its own internal investigation to determine which players were responsible for both the initial altercation and its escalation.
“Once we complete our investigation, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with district policies and applicable regulations,” the statement said. “Comsewogue athletes are held to a high standard of sportsmanship, which our District takes very seriously.”
At the outset of the fight, a second Comsewogue player aggressively joins the altercation and drives the Half Hollow Hills West player toward a gym exit, hard enough that the door is thrown open.
Greater Long Island has been unable to reach administrators or coaches from Half Hollow Hills West for comment on the incident.
Greater Long Island has requested permission from NFHS to publish or embed the footage but has not yet received a response.
Reporting in this story is based on a detailed review of that video along with information provided by school officials.
It remains unclear if play resumed following the incident — the final score was 63-52.
Greater Long Island will update this story as more information becomes available from law enforcement, the NFHS Network, and both school districts.
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