Villa Park Bans Some Students From Game

Walt Otto, Villa Park High School principal, said some of his school’s players and students will not be allowed to participate in or attend the school’s Century League finale at home against Santa Ana Valley tonight, after a brawl at Wednesday night’s basketball game against El Modena.

Otto said he had also discussed with El Modena Principal Gail Seal the possibility of playing next season’s two games against El Modena in the afternoon with no spectators.

The brawl, at Villa Park, was the fourth incident between the schools in the past three years. Earlier this year, in the first game between the schools, a fight started in the second quarter.

“I’ve talked to about 25 different people and everybody seems to have a different story,” Otto said of Wednesday’s incident. “I’ve looked at the videotape, but you can’t tell what’s happening. It had nothing to do with the game. It was a very clean game.

“There was a problem with the fans walking off the court at the end of the game. There was some pushing, shoving and a lot of yelling. I’m still investigating, but the rowdy ones won’t be attending Friday night’s game and some players won’t be playing.”

Otto, who did not attend the game, refused to identify the players who will be banned from tonight’s game. “It’s become more of a problem with the fans than the players,” he said.

Seal said the problem started when two players began pushing each other at the game’s conclusion.