Leading off today: Roslyn officials took a no-nonsense approach toward fan behavior issues as a boys basketball game, forfeiting a contest the Bulldogs were leading with under 30 seconds to play.
Roslyn fans twice rushed the court on Thursday, which forced the game against Valley Stream Central to be suspended with Roslyn leading, 75-71. School officials vow to beef up security in time for Tuesday's game against Hewlett, Newsday reported.
"We have decided to forfeit the game because of the behavior of our fans," read a statement from the Roslyn district. "We want to send a strong message that we will not compromise the safety of our students or community for the sake of winning games, and that it is our paramount responsibility to uphold the district's policies and standards of sportsmanship."
No players on either team were involved in the altercations.
Witnesses said Roslyn fans twice spilled onto the court in reaction to what they perceived as rough play by Valley Stream Central. The first incident, midway through the fourth quarter, was contained quickly and the game was allowed to resume.
But when Roslyn's Jordan Richmond was fouled with 26.8 seconds to go, fans again went on the court, prompting the Valley Stream Central coaches to send their players to the locker room. Police were called, according to Roslyn spokesman Barry Edelson, who said a fan hit a school security guard as the crowd was leaving the gym. Nassau police confirmed that a report was filed.
More malice: A William Floyd freshman was shot in the right calf at the school last night, shortly after a boys basketball game against Mercy High School of Riverhead, a school official said.
Suffolk police told Newsday the victim was a 14-year-old male who was listed in stable condition at Stony Brook University Medical Center.
The student was shot outside the school on a concrete concourse between the gym and the parking lot, Floyd AD Mark Mensch said.
"We were giving out the tournament awards when everyone came running back into the gymnasium because there were shots fired," Mensch told the paper.
Mensch said EMTs in the bleachers and Floyd trainer Karen Deleski provided medical care to the victim. Police have not taken anyone into custody in the incident.
