Brawl raises questions as tournament looms

A starting player on the Cape Henlopen boys’ top-ranked basketball team faces charges following a fight that broke out during the Henlopen North Conference Championship. It's unclear if he will be suspended from play as the team heads into the state tournament.

The fight started in the fourth quarter of the Feb. 22 game with about four minutes left to play. Officials called the game, which Smyrna won 61-34.

“We are extremely concerned and disappointed in the environment at last night’s basketball game as well as the ensuing altercation,” said Superintendent Robert Fulton Feb. 23 in a prepared statement. “We are committed to addressing negative actions involving any of our students/athletes. We are also committed to working with others to determine what can be done differently in the future so that last night’s events are not repeated. We are currently investigating all aspects of the incident to determine any disciplinary consequences and/or outcomes.”

Fulton said the district will follow its regular displinary process. He declined to comment about specific players. Cape Henlopen High School Principal Nikki Miller also declined comment. “I’m not at liberty to talk about the specifics about particular students,” she said.

On Feb. 23, Randy Rickards, 18, turned himself in to Milford police and was charged with third-degree assault and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors. He was released on $750 unsecured bond, according to court documents.

Court documents state Rickards was held back by his coach before breaking away and punching a spectator who returned the blow. Video of the fight shows the same exchange. The spectator is subdued on the floor by police, and while the spectator is lying on the floor, Rickards breaks free of his coach again and kicks the spectator in his face, causing his mouth to bleed, and cutting him above his nose, according to court documents.

Following the game, Cape Henlopen boys’ basketball coach Steven Re was interviewed complaining about hecklers in the stands throughout the whole game. Re also said spectators sat directly behind Cape players and harassed them. Athletic Director Bob Cilento declined to comment. Re has been unreachable for comment since the night of the fight.

Henlopen Conference Executive Secretary Bud Hitchens said a Smyrna administrator spoke with students sitting behind the Cape bench at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

Instead of sitting next to the scorer's table, Hitchens said, officials sat both teams farther away than usual in order to set up a coaches box. Officials also allowed spectators to sit directly behind the teams, he said.

“That happens sometimes. It depends how the gym is set up,” he said.

Hitchens said he does not know if any players were suspended following the fight, but recalled five days’ suspension was normal for fighting when he worked as athletic director for Cape.

Cape Henlopen school board Vice President Jessica Tyndall said more should have been done to prevent the fight.

“I am a firm believer that you are responsible for your actions and words; however, everyone has their breaking point. Our basketball team endured a tremendous amount of harassment, and I’m disappointed that more action was not taken by officials to remove these tormentors. The scenario that unfolded at the basketball game was unfortunate, and I’m heartbroken for the entire team,” she said.

Milford Police Detective Timothy Maloney said there were four uniformed Milford police at the game and one in plain clothes. There was also a plain-clothed Delaware State Police officer in attendance, he said.

After the fight began, Maloney said, four more Milford police responded to the gym.

A Smyrna spectator turned himself in to Milford police Feb. 26. Tahraan Hughes, 18, was charged with disorderly conduct. Hughes was released on $500 unsecured bond and as part of the bail agreement he is prohibited from attending any high school basketball games in Delaware. He also must have no contact with Milford School District property. A 17-year-old New Castle boy was charged with disorderly conduct after turning himself in on Feb. 27. He will appear in Kent County Family Court at a later date, Maloney said.

Cape Henlopen is the No. 1 seed in the boys’ state basketball tournament. Rickards remains on the team roster, according to capevikingssports.com.

Assistant Superintendent Cathy Petitgout said the district continues to follow Code of Conduct procedures for student infractions. No decisions have been made about Cape's first tournament game that will be played Thursday, March 1, she said.

DIAA Excecutive Director Thomas Neubauer could not be reached for comment on whether DIAA has suspended players involved with the basketball fight or sanctioned schools involved.