Is This What They Mean by March Madness?
March 14, 2019
An Illinois high school basketball game between Farragut and North Lawndale became unpleasant, ending in both schools being disqualified. During the IHSA Class 3A Boys Basketball Sectional Final, the two Chicago teams became hostile, erupting in a fight in the fourth quarter of the game. Farragut led North Lawndale 54-50 when one of Farragut’s players went up to attempt a dunk and was undercut by a North Lawndale player, causing him to fall.
A fight broke out between players and fans from both schools, resulting in the game being postponed and both teams being sent to their locker rooms. After consulting the game officials, the IHSA made the difficult decision that both teams would be disqualified as a result of the fight, saying, “It is vital that we continue to send the message that incidents like this at high school contests will not be tolerated. They are unacceptable in society, no less a high school sporting event.” The double forfeit will result in no team advancing to Tuesday’s Super Sectional.