Conference sanctions high school for racist incident
By Terry Murry on Thursday, May 27th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
CONNELL – The South Central Athletic Conference has sanctioned Connell High School due to racist remarks allegedly made by fans during a high school girls’ basketball game against Zillah High School. The conference’s athletic directors voted to ban both the girls’ and boys’ Connell teams from competing in the league’s postseason schedule. In addition, Connell students won’t be allowed to attend home or away competitions as fans for the remainder of the school year.
Those sanctions come on top of Connell’s self-imposed sanctions which bans student fans from basketball games indefinitely. Punishments for individuals identified to have been a part of the taunting will be handed down either by the school or the North Franklin School District. Connell High School can appeal the conference sanctions.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association also released a general statement endorsing its commitment to prohibiting racism at high school sporting events. That statement did not specifically mention the schools involved in last Saturday’s game.
Connell’s girls basketball team is 6-1 and in a three-way tie for first in the conference with Zillah and La Salle. Video of someone yelling “monkey” at Black players on the free-throw line has been widely shared on social media.
