West Roxbury’s Catholic Memorial School banned student fans from attending Monday’s semi-final basketball game after they chanted offensive remarks to another team’s fans.
Catholic Memorial was playing Newton North High School Friday night and witnesses said fans from both schools were chanting offensive statements at each other. After Newton North’s fan section made offensive comments about Catholic Memorial being an all-boys school, Catholic Memorial’s fans responded with "You killed Jesus." Newton North has a large Jewish population and many found the chant anti-Semitic.
"It definitely brought down the whole team spirit after the game, especially the Jewish kids," said Newton North guard Matt Mackowski.
A witness said the chant prompted an immediate rebuke from Catholic Memorial’s president, who ordered the students to stop. After the game, the students each apologized to Newton North’s principal. Both schools held assemblies Monday to teach students about proper behavior at sporting events.
Catholic Memorial alumni and family at Monday’s game at the Garden felt the punishment was a little harsh, saying the team should have had their classmates there to cheer them on. Others felt that Newton North should be held accountable as well.
"I don’t think Newton North should get off scot free like they did. They were chanting homophobic slurs at CM," said Catholic Memorial alum Conor Jennings.
Catholic Memorial ended up losing the semi-final game to Cambridge Rindge and Latin, 77-73.
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