Illinois playoff game results in brawl, Cairo's first defeat

METROPOLIS, Ill. -- About 40 law enforcement officers responded Friday night after a brawl broke out following the Massac County High School boys basketball team's victory at home against No. 1-ranked Cairo 64-61 in a regional championship game.

Police would not comment Saturday about whether anyone had been arrested.

"I just hope we can get past this and deal with it," Cairo coach Larry Baldwin said from his home in Cairo, where he was recovering with several stitches in his head. "We were just trying to stay focused on our ball game, but when I got hit that's when things got pretty emotional."

The Illinois High School Association is investigating the fight, but didn't have any further details on Saturday, assistant executive Director Jim Flynn said. He said the IHSA was investigating and would have no further comment until Monday.

A standing-room only crowd of more than 2,200 fans were packed into the small gym.

The incident started when Cairo senior Kalin Lowe missed a 3-point shot during the final seconds of the game, witnesses said.

Just after the final buzzer, fans of Cairo went out on the basketball court, where they were met by Massac County fans who were celebrating their team's win. Some bottles came raining down from the Cairo side of the bleachers and into the crowd on the floor, said Bobby Mayberry, 41, who was at the game.

Baldwin had just congratulated a Massac County assistand and player when Baldwin felt something strike him.

When the coach collapsed, Mayberry said it got ugly.

Cairo and Massac County fans were yelling, shoving and throwing punches at different spots on the court. Police officers and security workers were trying to keep the two sides apart and uniformed officials used sprayed pepper gas to disperse the crowd.

An adult and four adolescents were treated and released from Massac Memorial Hospital.