A rare double forfeit "marred" an Illinois High School Association Class 3A boys basketball sectional championship game Friday night. The ending of a game between Chicago Farragut and Chicago North Lawndale was "marred by a fourth quarter fight involving players and fans from both schools," according to a news release from the IHSA. After the fight, the gym was cleared of all spectators and the teams were sent to the locker rooms, according to the IHSA, whose officials then spoke to "game management and the game officials" at Lawndale and ruled the contest a double forfeit. "These are never easy decisions to make, but we believe it is the correct one," IHSA executive director Craig Anderson said in a release. "It is vital that we continue to send the message that incidents like this at high school contests will not be tolerated. They are unacceptable in society, no less a high school sporting event." Source tells NBC Sports Chicago that Farragut was leading North Lawndale 54-50 with 40 seconds left when a Farragut dunk occurred and the player was undercut. A “complete brawl” ensued and the gym was cleared. Waiting to confirm if both teams have been DQed. — Preps Talk (@NBCSPreps)March 9, 2019 According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Farragut led 56-50 with 41 seconds remaining. A Farragut player attempted a dunk and a North Lawdale player undercut him. That incited the brawl between players and fans. “It was crazy as hell,” a source told the Sun-Times. “It is sad the way it went down.” A source also told the Sun-Times that the IHSA ruled without talking to coaches or seeing video of the incident. Because of the decision, the IHSA already has its first entry into the Class 3A finals next weekend in Peoria: Chicago DePaul College Prep, which beat Arlington Heights St. Viator 62-53 in a sectional final on Friday night. "While the DePaul Prep boys basketball team and our community are disappointed not to have the supersectional experience," DePaul said in a release Saturday, "we are thrilled that our boys basketball team’s historic season will continue at the state finals which is every basketball-playing school’s ultimate goal. "DePaul Prep understands the IHSA’s decision. We know the IHSA is thoughtful and does not make tough decisions on a whim, and we appreciate the IHSA’s leadership and emphasis on the importance of sportsmanship." DePaul would have advanced to the 3A supersectional at Hoffman Estates against the Farragut-Lawndale winner. Instead, DePaul will play in an 11 a.m. semifinal March 15 against the winner of Chicago Bogan vs. Normal U-High from the Joliet Supersectional. The other two Class 3A supersectionals are Manual vs. Glen Ellyn Glenbard South in DeKalb and East St. Louis vs. Springfield Southeast in Springfield.<doc-sep>Farragut and North Lawndale were separated by four points when the fight broke out in the game's final minute. A sectional championship in the Illinois high school boys' basketball playoffs ended with both teams forfeiting following a fight in the game's final minute. Friday's contest between Farragut and North Lawndale was going down to the wire, when Farragut's Donavan Jones had a chance for a fast-break dunk with his team leading 54-50 with less than a minute remaining. Jones was undercut on his dunk, which led to a fight breaking out between the two teams and some of the spectators. NBC Sports Chicago had video of the incident. In a statement from Illinois High School Association executive director Craig Anderson, he explained what was done in the immediate aftermath of the brawl as well as what will happen in the postseason tournament since both Farragut and North Lawndale were disqualified and unable to advance to the next round. "The conclusion of [Friday's] IHSA Class 3A Boys Basketball Sectional Final at North Lawndale High School in Chicago between North Lawndale High School and Farragut Career Academy was marred by a fourth quarter fight involving players and fans from both schools," the statement read. "The game was postponed while the gym was cleared of all spectators, and the teams were sent to their respective locker rooms. "After speaking to game management and the game officials, the IHSA ruled the contest a double-forfeit and it was never concluded. No team will advance to Tuesday’s Super-Sectional game, and DePaul College Prep will advance to the Class 3A State Final field. These are never easy decisions to make, but we believe it is the correct one. It is vital that we continue to send the message that incidents like this at high school contests will not be tolerated. They are unacceptable in society, no less a high school sporting event." In 2015, North Lawndale was in a similar situation when it was suspended three games for a fight that came after a sectional semifinal win, according to Mike Clark of the Chicago Tribune.<doc-sep>
An Illinois high school basketball playoff game between Farragut and North Lawndale turned ugly in the final minutes Friday, resulting in both schools being disqualified. NBC Sports Chicago, which had video of the scene, showed a scuffle erupt in the final minutes after Farragut's Donavan Jones was undercut on a dunk attempt in the final minute. Farragut led North Lawndale 54-50 at the time of the incident. In a statement released by the Illinois High School Association, executive director Craig Anderson explained the decision to disqualify both schools from the tournament for the fight, which also included some spectators: "The conclusion of tonight’s IHSA Class 3A Boys Basketball Sectional Final at North Lawndale High School in Chicago between North Lawndale High School and Farragut Career Academy was marred by a fourth quarter fight involving players and fans from both schools. The game was postponed while the gym was cleared of all spectators, and the teams were sent to their respective locker rooms. "After speaking to game management and the game officials, the IHSA ruled the contest a double-forfeit and it was never concluded. No team will advance to Tuesday’s Super-Sectional game, and DePaul College Prep will advance to the Class 3A State Final field. These are never easy decisions to make, but we believe it is the correct one. It is vital that we continue to send the message that incidents like this at high school contests will not be tolerated. They are unacceptable in society, no less a high school sporting event." In a statement North Lawndale College Prep president Dr. Garland L. Thomas-McDavid sent to the institution's "Beloved community" that was provided to USA TODAY Sports, Thomas-McDavid called the undercut and Jones' fall "accidental." She added, "We completely respect and understand the difficult position of the IHSA officials. The behavior following the accidental fall was unacceptable. I do believe it is asking a lot of the team not to attempt to remove our players from harm given the mob action of the opposing team. That said, it was decided that both teams would be disqualified as a result of the brawl. It saddens me to see the season end this way."