Spectator brawl mars Deer Park boys basketball playoff win over Smithtown East
A general view outside Deer Park High School. Credit: Chuck Fadely
A brawl broke out between spectators at the end of the Deer Park-Smithtown East boys basketball playoff game Friday night.
The melee spilled on to the court immediately after the final buzzer sounded in Deer Park’s 58-56 victory.
“We're starting a full investigation and sorting through all the details of an unfortunate incident at the conclusion of our boys basketball game,” Deer Park superintendent Jim Cummings told Newsday. “We know some of the people involved and are unfamiliar with others. Because this may involve some of our students, we cannot comment on the specifics.”
Suffolk police told Newsday they responded to a call at the high school at 7:12 p.m. and that the fight was between students. No arrests were made, police said.
Cummings said no players were involved in the altercation and that no one was hurt. Both teams were quickly ushered out of the gym by security.
“The incident . . . had zero to do with players and coaches on either team,” Cummings said. “We take pride in maintaining ample security to prepare for potential situations like this, ensuring our fans feel safe."
Smithtown East athletic director Jason Lambert was not at the game but told Newsday he was told that “security did as good a job as they could’ve under the circumstances.”
Deer Park coach John McCaffrey had no comment. Smithtown East coach Jon Feiler couldn’t be reached for comment.
“We’ll evaluate the situation and speak with both programs,” said Tom Combs, the executive director of Suffolk County’s governing body of scholastic sports. “We’ll talk with the officials and evaluate what occurred and make a decision based on those facts.”
On Feb. 7, a boys varsity basketball game between Bellport and host West Babylon was stopped by officials with 3:06 remaining in the first quarter after a bench-clearing altercation between players.
A Wheatley Heights man was charged with third-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child after he allegedly punched a 15-year-old Comsewogue High School basketball player on the court during a game at Half Hollow Hills West High School on Jan. 8.
In Friday's game, senior Damien Scott led the Falcons with 14 points and junior Nusanti Delbridge added 13 points and six assists. Senior Reggie Jean-Lewis made a game-saving block with 1.3 seconds left. Craig O’Neill led Smithtown East (13-8) with 26 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter.
“The incident tarnished what was a phenomenal playoff game against Smithtown East,” Cummings said. “Both teams played their hearts out.”
Deer Park (18-4) will travel to No. 2 Half Hollow Hills West for the semifinal round on Friday, Feb. 27.
Michael Sicoli covers high school sports for Newsday. He graduated from Quinnipiac in 2022 and left with a master’s degree in sports journalism in 2023.
