Feb. 9, 2009 — The Central High Lady Caribs defeated the Educational Complex Lady Barracudas 41-24 Saturday in a forgettable game that was halted prematurely with 4:39 left because of a bench-clearing brawl between the two teams.
The fight started between two backcourt players, but quickly turned into a free-for-all when teammates rushed to join the fray. Luckily parents and coaches quickly moved in to separate and try to calm down the players. However, they were not able to prevent one player from suffering a gash above the eye.
When order was restored to the gym, the referees rightfully called the game, as tension was still running high between the teams. Of course, the blame for what transpired on the floor was flying everywhere, but most of it was directed at the refereeing crew. According to many in the gym, the referees allowed the game to get out of hand late in the second half by "letting them play." The Caribs were leading by a substantial margin, but both teams were still competing very hard as time wound down. The players were also committing what looked to be some rather obvious uncalled fouls, which led to some testy moments before the actual fisticuffs.
"Let them play" is something that one can hear coming from fans and coaches when they think a referee is calling a game too tight, but Saturday's fight is one major reason why the officials should always try to stay in control of the game. In the end everyone is going to point the finger at them, whether justifiably or not.
The game itself was a rematch of a blowout win by the Lady Caribs on the Lady Barracudas' home floor one week earlier, and compared to that game the Complex ladies looked much better in the opening quarter as they were able to stay with the Lady Caribs and only trailed by three at the end of the opening period, 16-13. Verinique Llanos led the Lady Barracudas with seven points in the opening period and Shamyra Vanterpool netted eight for the Caribs.
The Caribs turned up the defensive pressure in the second quarter and held the Barracudas to just six points in the period while netting 13 for a 29-19 lead going into the locker room at the half.
Things would get worse for the Lady Barracudas in the third quarter as tougher "D" by the Lady Caribs held them to just three points. Vanterpool sank a three-pointer and a couple of free throws in the period to help the Caribs open up an 18-point lead at 40-22 after three quarters.
The fourth quarter opened up with both teams really going at each other, and after 3:30 had elapsed in the period only three points were scored collectively — all on free throws. The Lady Caribs led by 17 with 4:39 left at 41-24, and that is when what had by then turned into a heated game finally boiled over.
Risherma Burke led the Lady Caribs with a game-high 12 points, Vanterpool netted 10 and Lanese Bough finished with seven. For the Barracudas, Llanos netted 10 points.
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