High school basketball player punched by Wheatley Heights man during game at Half Hollow Hills West, police say

A Wheatley Heights man faces an assault charge after he allegedly punched a 15-year-old on the basketball court during a game at Half Hollow Hills West High School last week, Suffolk County police said.

Jeffery Vernot, 36, was charged with third-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child, after he allegedly punched the teen about 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, the police said.

The game at Half Hollow Hills West was against Comsewogue. The Comsewogue school district, in a statement, said the alleged victim played for Comsewogue and the alleged assailant is a Hills West parent.

With 44 seconds left in the game and Half Hollow Hills West leading, 63-52, players on the court started pushing and shoving each other, according to an NFHS Network video viewed by Newsday.

Coaches, referees and Hills West school officials worked to break up the fight as players left the bench to join the melee.

The alleged assault on the teen player happened "at one point" during the skirmish, the Comsewogue district said.

About four minutes after the skirmish was broken up, the video shows both teams exiting the gym without playing the remainder of the game.

"The Comsewogue School District is deeply disappointed by the altercation that occurred during the boys’ Varsity basketball game against Half Hollow Hills West on Thursday, January 8," the Comsewogue statement said.

The Half Hollow Hills Central School District shared the sentiments.

"Half Hollow Hills condemns violence of any kind at our sporting events or within our schools and considers such behavior completely unacceptable," said John O'Farrell, superintendent of schools, in a statement.

"We are cooperating fully with the Suffolk County Police Department as they conduct their investigation, and we remain committed to implementing appropriate measures to help prevent similar incidents in the future," O'Farrell said.

An investigation is being conducted to identify players responsible for the original altercation and its subsequent escalation.

Half Hollow Hills West boys basketball coach Bill Mitaritonna declined to comment before Monday's game against Eastport-South Manor.

Tom Combs, executive director of Section XI, said of the players involved: "The people who violated the policy of fighting and coming off the bench will be suspended for two games."

Combs added "schools are more than able to penalize those actions in a harsher way, if they deem that it’s appropriate."

Combs commended on-court officials Scott Santelli and Mark Oppenheimer and the Hills West staff for their fast response.

"It was really quickly dispersed and handled well by the Hills West chaperones that were present, and both referees did a great job to get right in the middle of it," Combs said.

Vernot was issued an appearance ticket and will be arraigned at a later date, police said.

Newsday’s Brian Heyman contributed to this story.

Correction: The alleged victim played for Comsewogue. An earlier version of the headline on this story incorrectly described the teen's affiliation.