"You only cover us when no one comes to our games" South Carolina HS basketball

[Oggiedoggie]

Finally, a way to save newspapers:

CENTRAL — It has always been a heated rivalry, but never has it come to this for the basketball teams from Daniel and Seneca high schools.

On Wednesday afternoon in a joint statement released by the school districts of Oconee and Pickens counties, it was announced the varsity games between the schools on Friday night in Central will be closed to the public due to student safety concerns in the wake of “recent community events.”

Julie Thompson, the Director of Communication Services for the School District of Pickens County, told The Journal that the decision was directly related to an incident that recently took place in Seneca.

Seneca Police Chief John Covington said the choice to close the game was solely that of the schools, but acknowledged law enforcement is kept busy every time Daniel and Seneca play each other in athletic contests, especially football and basketball.

“It’s not a particular incident,” Covington said. “The rivalry between these two schools has always been intense. In the past, it’s spilled over and fights have occurred in local neighborhoods and restaurants, and sometimes firearms are involved.

“It’s getting ridiculous and out of hand.”

In addition to the closed varsity contests, the junior varsity games scheduled at Seneca on Friday have been cancelled.

More at: http://www.upstatetoday.com/news/2010/jan/28/seneca-daniel-games-closed-due-safety-concerns/

 

[Bob Cook]

I don't know that it's any worse this year, but it seems like there are a ton of fights this year at basketball games. The Florida high school association just came down on a big Chipley-Vernon brawl, which included video shot of a Chipley assistant chest-bumping a player to congratulate him on his involvement in the fight. Also, Oggie, I believe I saw that some big tournament in the Anderson area might get scotched because the cost to insure it is getting so high because of brawls and/or crowd-control problems.

 

[budcrew08]

This has happened a few times in new york. They had to close off basketball games between schenectady and Albany because of that stuff.

 

[Smallpotatoes]

That's high school. Lose the game, win the fight.

 

[Stitch]

Does that mean the reporter doesn't have to cover it?

 

[fossywriter8]

Does that mean the reporter doesn't have to cover it?

No, no, no.
Sidebar on no crowd (even sweeter if it was scheduled to be senior night).
Picture of cheerleaders (if they're allowed in) with empty seats in background.
Blog entries about only the squeak of sneakers, the sound of a bouncing ball and the players' voices ringing off the walls.
Oh, and shoot some digital for the Web page.

 

[budcrew08]

More with less, mother****ers!

 

[daytonadan1983]

I covered a girls HS game where there were 12 people in the stands. I gave a kid I knew a notepad and said "Get everyone's name"

2nd paragraph read Podunk beat Nowhere 55-39 as so and so, so and so, so and so watched. All 12 fans were listed.

My editor busted a gut. "Greatest f---ing thing I've seen in preps." We sold 12 more papers the next day, I'm sure.