The investigation by De La Salle North Catholic and Knappa High School officials into a potentially explosive situation after a basketball game in late January found no weapons were ever involved and that the conflict was quickly resolved by Knappa staff.
Initial reports received by The Skanner News indicated a highly-charged racial confrontation between the multi-racial inner city team and Knappa "Loggers" boosters, after a key set of games that could affect the division championship.
However De La Salle parents who contacted the Skanner, as well as staff, say no punches were thrown and no use of the "n-word" were confirmed in their investigation.
All agreed that the confrontation was heated, brief but is now resolved, and a Knappa resident who apparently touched it off with hostile comments has been banned from school events.
The two teams – both boys and girls leagues -- are at the top of their division, intense rivals in 2A play, and are highly seeded for this year's championships set for this month.
Last year The De La sale Knights squared off against the Loggers for their division championship.
But while the Loggers won the championship, and their head coach Craig Cokley was named Coach of the Year, De La Salle won the league title based on their overall record, and the team's star player, Donta Harris, was named Player of the Year.
"The picture that was painted for The Skanner News in the e-mail was filled with emotional frustration and not factual information," one parent wrote. "Your article painted Knappa as being this racist school that was out to get the De La Salle students when in actuality it was a hand full of individuals acting unruly from both sides."
Knappa and De La Salle officials say they have spent quality time talking about the incident and working out misunderstandings on both sides.
