COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Reynoldsburg City Schools is condemning an incident that occurred at a high school district championship basketball game on March 1, when a player punched an opposing athlete in the groin.
During the second quarter of the Division I District final between Reynoldsburg and Hilliard Bradley, a Raiders player struck Jaguars sophomore Ben Mirgon below the belt. Mirgon immediately fell to the floor in pain until going to the bench, missing several minutes of the game. Officials at the time charged the Reynoldsburg player with an intentional foul.
“At the most recent basketball game, a Reynoldsburg Boys Basketball player acted in a way that lacked sportsmanship. At the time, the player was given an intentional foul, but upon further review after the game, the coaching staff felt the action warranted additional consequences,” Reynoldsburg City Schools said in a statement.
“We are taking appropriate steps to address the situation and ensure that all our athletes understand the importance of ethical conduct and responsible representation of their families and our District.”
The statement did not go further into what actions the school would take or if the player would receive a suspension. Reynoldsburg head coach Andrew Moore declined to comment on Monday night.
The action quickly drew criticism from play-by-play announcers who were calling the game on a live stream through the National Federation of State High School Associations.
“He should be disqualified. Right now,” one announcer said. “That is uncalled for.”
Bradley was leading Reynoldsburg at the time of the incident, 30-18, but went on to lose to the Raiders 57-51.
“Reynoldsburg City Schools does not condone players’ unsportsmanlike conduct. Our student-athletes represent our District and community and are considered mentors and role models for our younger students,” the statement said. “We expect our student-athletes to uphold the highest sportsmanship standards on and off the court.”
Mirgon said he was upset that it impacted the flow of the game.
“It was an unfortunate situation that I wouldn’t wish on anybody. I’m sure the other kid regrets it,” Mirgon said via text message Monday. “At the end of the day, we had a chance for one of the biggest upsets in state history and we didn’t get it done in the final minute.”
The OHSAA said on Monday that it was in communication with school administrators on the situation and how the team will handle it moving forward.
“That will determine if the OHSAA needs to take any further action,” OHSAA spokesperson Tim Streid said.
Reynoldsburg, which won its first district title since 2018, will face Dublin Coffman in the regional semifinals on Thursday night at Taft Coliseum.