A Texas high school girls’ basketball game descended into a chaotic brawl Tuesday night after an adult woman allegedly body-slammed a teenage player during the confrontation.
The disorder erupted in the fourth quarter of a matchup between Brenham High School and Bryan High School in Bryan, Texas, roughly 100 miles northwest of Houston.
With Bryan trailing 67-51 and about two and a half minutes remaining, a Bryan player secured a rebound and sprinted into the open court. A Brenham defender then knocked the ball from her hands, according to video obtained by KBTX.
Players from both teams converged on the loose ball, but the scramble quickly escalated into a physical fight.
A mother in the stands alleged that one Bryan player kicked toward Brenham athletes, prompting several players to exchange punches.
“There were four girls on top of my daughter, fighting her,” Cameshia Mathis told KBTX.
Coaches and players tried to separate the athletes, but spectators soon ran onto the court as the melee intensified.
In video of the incident, an adult woman wearing a pink shirt appears to approach a Brenham player from behind, put her arm around the teenager’s neck and throw her to the floor.
The woman had been watching the game from the other side of the court, near the team bench.
“It was gut-wrenching and heartbreaking. It made you feel rage — all of those emotions,” Mathis said while describing the alleged assault captured on video.
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Police and school officials launched an investigation into the brawl. KBTX reported that an arrest warrant was issued on an assault charge for the unidentified woman accused of grabbing the student.
“It’s heartbreaking that you have to worry about adults in a situation like this. Instead of helping to calm things down, you’re adding fuel to the fire,” Mathis said.
Mathis’ daughter and the Brenham teammate who was thrown to the ground were both taken to the emergency room. Their injuries included bruises, scratches and contusions.
Coaches and officials eventually brought the fight to an end and kept the two teams apart.
The game did not continue and was officially declared abandoned, according to the Brenham Banner.
The final result was later recorded as a victory for Brenham, giving the Cubbettes their first win against the non-league opponent in 12 years, according to the game recap.
The incident reportedly continued after the game when parents and players from both teams became involved in another confrontation as the visiting team tried to leave Bryan High School. The altercation occurred near the locker room and parking lot, the newspaper reported.
“At the end of the day, they are still human,” Brenham head coach Brad Evans said. “They are going to defend themselves.”
