Tuesday night’s boys regular-season Jefferson District finale between visiting Charlottesville and Monticello was halted in the third quarter due to a melee between individuals from both schools. It is not certain whether the game, which CHS led by a score of 36-29 with 3:02 showing on the clock in the third period, will count toward the standings.
Administrators from each school declined to comment on the situation in the immediate aftermath, but are expected to release a joint statement sometime Wednesday.
When the dust settled, supporters from Charlottesville were escorted from the gymnasium with police oversight shortly after the game was called before Monticello faithful were allowed to start filing out.
Both head coaches, Monticello’s Robert Shelton and Charlottesville’s Mitch Minor, were seen shaking hands after the incident.
The game itself had all the makings of a barnburner even in pregame warmups, as the atmosphere on both sides was electric. Each school’s student section came out in numbers, and both were loud and intense throughout. Charlottesville led by four, 24-20 at halftime, and Mustangs guard Jhalil Mosley scored all nine of his team’s points to cut the lead to 31-29 with 5:01 left in the third quarter.
An Ethan Best elbow caught Monticello senior Sam Shannon’s face prior to the incident, which got each group of fans further stirred up. After a Darius Watson 3-pointer put Charlottesville back up by seven to match its largest lead — which it held since the opening minute — with 3:20 to go in the third, it is not clear what exactly started the sequence, which originated in front of the Monticello student section.
A scramble ensued to restore order and start getting everyone out of harm’s way.
The district tournament is scheduled to begin on Friday, and MHS will still receive a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed. Charlottesville will host Louisa on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
However, multiple-game suspensions could be in the mix for members of each squad.
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