Webb Orders Double Forfeit, Suspensions

A double forfeiture was declared Tuesday by CIF San Diego Section Commissioner Kendall Webb, and three players were suspended for one game, stemming from a brawl during the University City-Kearny boys’ basketball game Friday night.

The rulingwas made possible by the Section’s Code of Ethics policy.

“Both teams were in violation of the Code of Ethics policy,” Webb said. “Both teams had numerous players leave the bench during an altercation. Both Kearny and University City are going to be assessed a loss, and three players will be ineligible for (today’s) games.”

The players are Vernon Warren of University City and Steve Marshall and Keith Robinson of Kearny.

Additionally, Webb said all players but one from University City will be on probation.

After viewing tapes and going over written reports, Webb commended UC’s Maurice Taylor for restraining himself, as well as Kearny Coach Bill Peterson and UC Coach Tom Medigovich for their roles in trying to maintain order.

Kearny, the home team, was leading, 61-43, with 6:09 left when the fight broke out and players and fans from both schools emptied onto the court. After what was intended to be a “cooling off” period, Medigovich said campus security told his team to leave, which it did.

Second-ranked Kearny is 23-2 and University City 12-9.

“No, I’m not surprised (by the decision),” Peterson said. “Do I agree with it? No. Personally, I think the rule stinks. They’re asking 17-year-old kids to act like adults when the adults can’t even act like adults.”

“I had a kid kicked in the face and again in the chest, and they want to punish my kids for trying to protect their teammates. To suspend Steve Marshall and Vernon Warren, that’s fine. They did have an altercation. But to tell us to suffer the same penalty as UC when we had an 18-point lead is wrong.”