By Ryan Menzie
Signal Sports Writer
The Saugus Centurions and Valencia Vikings got into a brawl at the end of their matchup on Tuesday, causing the game to end early.
The repercussions from the Tuesday match would boil over to their Friday night games, with both the Centurions and the Vikings forfeiting their matches.
“It was due to the players leaving their bench,” said Saugus Athletic Director George Lopata. “The game tonight (Friday) will be cancelled, but no other games will be forfeited.”
Dave Caldwell, spokesman for the William S. Hart Union High School District, also confirmed that the Vikings and Centurions would have their games forfeited on Friday due to the bench-clearing fight.
“Due to the physical altercation that occurred at the Saugus High School and Valencia High
School varsity boys basketball game held on Tuesday, Nov. 30, where both teams’ benches cleared, and in accordance with CIF and Foothill League by-laws, both Saugus and Valencia High School varsity boys basketball teams will not compete in their next scheduled games,” said Caldwell in a prepared statement. “These games are scheduled for Friday, Dec. 3, and these games will be considered a forfeit for each team. The Hart district and Foothill League value good sportsmanship and will continue to expect and support this with all student-athletes.”
The bench-clearing brawl awards the West Ranch Wildcats and the Castaic Coyotes automatic wins for Friday night’s forfeited matchups. The Centurions and Vikings will now wait until Tuesday for their next chance at a Foothill League matchup.
The Centurions were up by 14 points Tuesday night near the end of the fourth quarter before the fight broke out, and Caldwell confirmed the Tuesday game will go down as a tie due to league by-laws that say a basketball game that is not finished will be considered a tie.
