The brawl last week between the DeSoto and Duncanville boys’ basketball team has brought even more penalties and suspensions for the two schools.
The UIL State Executive Committee decided on Tuesday to issue DeSoto head coach Chris Dyer and Duncanville head coach Corey Chism a two-year probation and public reprimand for their involvement in the altercation between the two teams after the Eagles beat the Panthers 67-46 on Feb. 6 in Duncanville.
Eight players, four from each team, were previously disciplined for the brawl and the UIL felt the actions were strong enough to let stand. At least one DeSoto player was suspended indefinitely from the program. The Eagles announced they would forfeit the remaining two games left on the regular season schedule. However, DeSoto would still make the playoffs after forfeiting games against Irving Nimitz and South Grand Prairie to finish 11-3 in District 7-6A.
Duncanville opted not to forfeit their remaining games, telling the UIL on Tuesday that the Panthers didn’t want to punish other schools by leaving opponents without a Senior Night game. Duncanville hosts South Grand Prairie on Tuesday night in the regular season finale. The Panthers sit at 11-2 in district while the Warriors are 11-3.
Duncanville ISD released a statement Tuesday afternoon saying “Duncanville ISD appreciates the UIL State Executive Committee’s due diligence in ruling on this sensitive set of circumstances. Our district’s leadership agrees with the committee that such incidents are not acceptable. We appreciate the committee upholding the district’s discipline for our players. Moving forward, we are committed to developing and implementing a plan with players and coaches to prevent future incidents.”
The two schools were the only ones to receive punishment from the UIL on Tuesday. Dallas Kimball head coach Michael Pittman and Dallas Conrad head coach Richard Johnson were both issued a two-year probation and public reprimand as a result of a recent altercation between the school’s girls’ basketball teams.
Three Conrad players and two Kimball players were issued suspensions. One Kimball player was suspended for the rest of the basketball season, two track meets, two volleyball contests, five basketball games next season and was placed on one year probation.
