Hanford coach disputes wrongdoing in breaking up fight. Pasco parents, NAACP also respond
Parents and students are on edge after a brawl erupted at a Tri-Cities high school basketball game.
Tuesday night was supposed to be one of the last conference games for the Bulldogs and Falcons varsity boys basketball teams, both 2-16.
Erika Garcia says she and her entire family came out to support her son and nephew, who were playing for Pasco High School. It was also her nephew’s senior night.
But emotions ran high from the start, Garcia says, with players getting physical with one another and fans antagonizing players.
“It was out of control. The refs had no control of the game,” said Garcia, 38, of Pasco. “That’s normal for Pasco, for the refs to never have control of the games for us. The fouls are always lopsided.”
At one point, Garcia’s nephew went up for a basket when she says he was pushed by a Hanford player mid-air. He landed and broke his vertebrae, Garcia said.
That incident led to a mid-game scuffle between players and some adults, online video shows. Garcia says she saw a Hanford coach choke her son’s best friend. She ran down the rafters, thinking it was her son at first.
Then, after the game, another fight broke out. Heckling between adults and students led to the second brawl.
“It was intense. It was traumatic. It was unfortunate. It was disgusting — all of the above,” Garcia said.
As details of the fights are still being pieced together, parents and the community are voicing their frustrations over what they feel was an entirely preventable night of tragic and unsportsmanlike incidents.
Garcia tells the Tri-City Herald she believes corrective action needs to be taken to the school’s athletic director. She felt their concerns were brushed off.
“Pasco High, they’re their own worst enemy,” she said.
Since that night, the Pasco police department has opened an investigation into the incident, with the support of the two school districts and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. No charges have been filed in court.
Both Pasco High School and Hanford High School have implemented safety measures for their final season games, which includes higher attendance of school administrators and more police and security presence.
Several students from both schools were placed on athletic suspension and the varsity coach alleged to have assaulted a player was placed on administrative leave pending further investigation of what happened. Claims of racial slurs being used have been disputed.
Richland School District said their athletes failed to exemplify their “highest standards of sportsmanship toward officials, teammates, opponents and coaches.”
“Actions taken by a member of the Hanford basketball coaching staff that do not reflect our commitment to safety are not tolerated. That coach has been placed on administrative leave while we continue our investigation,” a statement read.
However, attorney Scott Johnson who is representing the assistant boys varsity basketball coach sent the Herald a lengthy comment strongly disputing the Richland School District’s statement and giving his own description of what happened.
“While we understand that emotions are running high concerning this incident, the most important thing is for the facts to be reported. The video evidence is clear that my client did not choke anyone and was trying to deescalate the situation,” wrote Johnson.
He said this is what his client, who is not named, says happened:
“My client was on the sideline during the game. With less than 7 seconds left in the game, and Hanford leading by double digits, a Hanford player was dribbling the ball in place on the Hanford side of the court, waiting for the clock to winddown. A Pasco player came in and stole the ball from the Hanford player.”
“While not a foul, stealing the ball with seconds left in a game with the score differential in double digits is bush league at best. The Hanford player who had the ball stolen from him fouled the Pasco player as the Pasco player was attempting a layup. After the foul, the Pasco bench cleared, and several Pasco players aggressively came at the Hanford player. Some of the Pasco players began throwing punches at the Hanford player.”
“My client saw what was happening and rushed in to make sure no one was hurt. He saw a Pasco player swing at the Hanford player and miss. He saw that the Pasco player was again going to swing at the Hanford player, so he put his arms around the Pasco player’s torso.”
“At no point did my client choke or touch the Pasco player in any other way than to wrap his arms around his torso. Once Pasco coaches arrived, my client let go of the Pasco player, and the player went with the Pasco coaches. That is the entire involvement my client had in the incident.”
Johnson said his client did nothing wrong and is cooperating with all investigations.
“We are disappointed with the Richland School District, who issued an email without having any of the facts. Instead of waiting until all the facts were known, the Richland School District rushed to judgment and got it wrong. We are waiting for their apology,” he wrote.
The Pasco School District’s statement said it expects all students, staff and spectators to demonstrate “good sportsmanship, respect and positive behavior” at competitions.
“Athletic competitions should foster teamwork and school pride and there is no place for violence or inappropriate conduct from anyone in attendance,” a statement read.
On Thursday, just 48 hours after the fights, the boy Bulldogs hosted the Chiawana Riverhawks for a game. Principals from both schools stood together and read a statement of sportsmanship and community support shortly before tip-off.
‘It was hatred happening’
Irving Brown Sr., chapter president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Tri-Cities chapter, held a quickly called meeting of parents and media in a Pasco High classroom shortly before the Pasco-Chiawana game.
Brown stopped short of saying the fight was racially motivated, but said he felt the incident was indicative of broader systemic tensions between the two schools.
“It was hatred happening, what I seen on those videos,” Brown said. “It wasn’t an argument. It was disgust and hate that I was seeing on faces, and that shouldn’t be happening.”
He also criticized the district for what he perceived as an information vacuum in the days since the fight. Brown called on leaders to step up and console the community.
A half-dozen Pasco parents in attendance criticized police for escorting Falcon players and getting their statements that night, but not reportedly doing the same for the Bulldogs. They also called on the Hanford coach to be arrested.
Brown says it was “good” to hear that the Hanford coach was placed on administrative leave, and says there are probably more staff who should face disciplinary repercussion.
“This is a community that needs to come together and make some changes,” he said.
Pasco police investigators posted on Facebook that they are asking for the community’s help in gathering video or photos of the fight to help with their investigation.
Sean Bessette, director of communications for WIAA, said in a statement that their agency is aware of the fight.
“The association is not aware of any reported unacceptable language, but final reports have yet to be received. Our office remains focused on working with the involved schools,” he said.
Leo Perales, a Pasco city councilman, on Thursday called on the school to lift four Pasco player’s suspensions because they were being provoked and put in a “difficult situation.”
This story was originally published February 7, 2025 at 12:29 PM.
