New Brockton releases AHSAA findings

The Alabama High School Athletic Association has made a ruling regarding the bench-clearing scuffle in the Sept. 18 New Brockton-Elba game. 

Both parties met behind closed doors Sept. 21 to determine the ruling, which was released Tuesday in a statement by New Brockton High School Principal Gray Harrison.

21 New Brockton players were identified leaving the designated sideline, which is a violation of National Federation of State High School Association rules. As a result, those players are suspended for the next two games (Providence Christian and Highland Home).

"On behalf of New Brockton High School, we would like to take this opportunity to apologize to the Elba City Schools System - faculty, staff, parents, students and players and the Alabama High School Athletic Association and staff for the actions of our coaches, parents, student-athletes, and community members," Harrison said in the statement.

"We are striving to continue with a motto of 'Gamecock Pride,' and our actions did not represent this motto.  We accept the consequences for these actions and we will take the recommendation of the AHSAA and use this experience as an opportunity to teach children lifelong lessons regarding the importance of good sportsmanship."

Each student will be required to take the STAR Take 2 Sportsmanship Program, which will reduce player fines to $100 per player.

Four of the six ejections from last Friday's game have also been removed by the AHSAA. 

In addition, one New Brockton coach has been suspended for one game. The school was also fined $500, and put on probation for a year.

"For us, we're not going to be a program that tries to justify things that we did," said New Brockton coach Justin Jones.

"We did what we did, received our punishment and move forward."

Elba will lose only one player to suspension for two games for leaving his respective bench area.