Details of charges filed in basketball melee released
Police alleged the actions of a Uniontown man led to fights in the stands during a March 7 boys basketball playoff game between Meadville and Uniontown high schools.
During the final quarter of the game, Reginald Grooms, 44, walked from the Uniontown fan section to the bleachers where Meadville spectators were and “began throwing punches at James Chabot,” court paperwork alleged.
“This action then caused multiple skirmishes to occur in the stand and on the court between spectators and players,” the complaint, filed by Meadville City Police, contended.
The court filing noted that there were multiple spectators, including children, in the area of the fight, which occurred at Meadville High School.
Grooms was charged with misdemeanor counts of simple assault and disorderly conduct and cited for summary harassment while Chabot, 37, of Meadville, was cited for disorderly conduct.
Citations are treated like traffic tickets and typically are resolved by paying a fine.
A 16-year-old Meadville boy was the only other person to face misdemeanor charges. The remaining defendants – Notorious Grooms, 18, of Uniontown; Malik Wilson, 25, of Meadville; and two other 16-year-olds from Meadville – each face disorderly conduct citations.
Wilson allegedly got into a verbal fight with multiple Uniontown High School basketball players which “sparked a physical altercation between parents and players,” the complaint stated. Notorious Grooms, a senior on Uniontown’s basketball team, is accused of trying to punch a Meadville basketball player.
Due to their age, no information was available about what the 16-year-olds are alleged to have done.
The melee broke out with about three minutes left to play in the inter-district Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association playoff game. Officials originally awarded the victory to Meadville, who was winning 63-55, but the PIAA ruled later that the game was a double forfeiture by both teams.
The PIAA took additional disciplinary action against the two schools, banning them from next year’s tournament unless specific requirements are met, including having coaches and players for both teams complete training on sportsmanship through the National Federation of State High School Association. If the schools fulfill all outlined provisions, their basketball teams will be permitted to compete in the upcoming season.
Additionally, any spectators identified by school administration were banned from “any and all school-sponsored activities until June 15, 2026.”
The PIAA has not returned multiple phone calls or emails trying to clarify whether the organization has the authority to impose a ban that seems to include activities like school plays or graduation ceremonies.
Uniontown Assistant to the Superintendent Dan Bosnic did not comment specifically on what that portion of the ruling could mean, instead providing this statement: “We are complying fully with the PIAA and their requests.”