TSSAA basketball brawl ends Frank Hughes vs. Clarksburg boys game

A brawl between opposing players forced Frank Hughes and Clarksburg officials to end their Jan. 13 non-district TSSAA basketball game early.  

The teams were tied 40-40 with 4:17 remaining in the fourth quarter when it “seemed neither (player) wanted to release” a tied-up ball, according to the TSSAA officials report obtained by The Tennessean. 

Things escalated quickly from there as all but three of Clarksburg’s players left the bench area, the officials report stated. 

NFHS video of the game appears to show a Frank Hughes and Clarksburg player excessively battling for a tied-up ball before the Frank Hughes player throws a punch. The Clarksburg player then responds with a punch, and a Clarksburg coach runs over to pull his player away from the fight. 

At about that time, video shows several Clarksburg players — and at least one person in street clothes sitting with the Clarksburg team — leave the bench to join the altercation.

The melee lasted about 26 seconds before coaches, school administrators and law enforcement gained control. Some of the activity involved players trying to pull their own teammates out of the scrum.

The initial incident between two players occurred near the Clarksburg bench. Game officials said in their report that they couldn’t discern how many Frank Hughes players came off the bench, but the Frank Hughes principal offered to provide video.

“We spoke to coaches and principals from both schools,” the report stated. “All were very nice, cordial, and supportive. They were told a report would be sent to TSSAA.”

The report didn’t specify which players were officially ejected before the game was called. In basketball, TSSAA bylaws call for a two-game suspension for any player or coach ejected from a contest.

Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at [email protected] and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.

He also contributes to The Tennessean's high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSSAA basketball brawl ends Frank Hughes, Clarksburg boys game