A thrilling basketball game between Wilson and Cabrillo with a playoff spot on the line became yet another incident of parental behavior overshadowing kids playing sports on Thursday evening at Browning High. Parental misconduct has already been listed as the reason behind two coaches resigning midseason this year, with Wilson girls’ basketball coach Erin Carey and Millikan boys’ basketball coach Curtis Boyer stepping down recently. Their stories became nationwide talking points, and both were recently featured on NBC4.
The game was held at Browning due to leaks in Wilson’s gym, and saw the Bruins narrowly defeat Cabrillo in a thriller that showcased both teams’ grit and heart. But shortly after the game, a Wilson parent tried to confront Bruins coach James Boykin following the handshake line.
“Less than ten seconds after I finish the handshake line a dad is there trying to get at me, to fight me or choke me out or something, trying to get to me,” said Boykin. According to The562.org reporters on hand, Wilson campus security officer Derek Jones stepped in quickly and likely kept it from escalating into an actual fight by restraining the parent. That didn’t end the chaos, however.
As campus police officers were escorting the family out, one of the people being led out hit an officer.
“Someone with the group struck a police officer in the face,” said Boykin. The562 reporters said that was seen by many in the gym and elicited a loud response. At that point players and coaches were escorted into the locker room–while outside, another altercation occurred, this time between parents, which led to the Long Beach Police Department being called.
As the teams left the locker room and departed Browning, there were a half-dozen LBPD vehicles along with an ambulance and a fire truck on hand, and police took statements from parents and school employees.
Boykin said he’s frustrated by the way this season has progressed in the Long Beach hoops world.
“I just want to coach a game, that’s all I want to do,” he said. “It’s the same stuff that Erin’s been talking about, what Boyer’s been talking about. Some of these parents are out of control. It’s just the climate right now as far as what they’re doing. It’s unfortunate because the kids at this point seem to be more reasonable and level-headed than some of the parents.”
Boykin said the parent who challenged him on the court was frustrated about their child’s playing time.
“They’re upset and they’re not handling it correctly,” he said. “We just finished a big-time win, the game is over, and then this is happening.”
Boykin pointed out that it’s an especially strange dynamic, since Wilson and Cabrillo will face each other again less than 24 hours later, meeting at Millikan at 7pm with the Moore League’s fourth and final playoff spot on the line in the one-off tiebreaker contest.
“Hope everything goes smoothly,” he said. “It’s going to be competitive and wild and I’m just hoping it’s all basketball. I don’t know the last time I had a game where it’s just basketball.”
Subscribe to the562 on GiveButter to make a recurring donation and keep Long Beach sports coverage free!
