Parents in Cherokee get good news on charter school

Cherokee County schools police charged three spectators after an on-court brawl during a basketball game between rivals.

Kent and Judy Orr, both of Robbinsville, are charged with assault on a government official in connection with the Dec. 7 fight at the boys game between Andrews and Robbinsville high schools. A criminal summons was issued for Sharain Colbert, of Andrews, for disorderly conduct.

Kent Orr said he did throw a punch that night, but he didn't know he was swinging at a school police officer. He said the officer was in plainclothes and had not identified himself. Orr said he thought the officer was an irate parent.

“I am guilty of hitting a man, but I am not guilty of hitting a cop,” he said. “If I had known he was a cop, I would have tried to help him.”

Orr said he ran to the end of the court after the fight broke out to keep fans from assaulting players. He said half of the court was full of people pushing and punching. He said his wife wasn't on the court during the fight and should not have been charged.

He said he apologized to the officer before leaving.

Colbert could not be reached.

The charges are misdemeanors.

The fight broke out with 2.5 seconds remaining in the Andrews Wildcats' 55-52 home win.

School officials said it began with “chest-bumping” between players after a Robbinsville Black Knights foul though Orr said players were punching each other.

The school police officer was not injured, school officials have said.

Students followed directions from coaches and administrators to stop, Superintendent Stephen Lane said Wednesday, but some fans kept fighting.

All three people charged were spectators and did not have children playing on either team, he said.

“I think they just got caught in the moment, and all of the sudden they were on the court,” he said.

The brawl was the first Lane has seen as system leader in Cherokee County and the third fight he has seen since he got into education in 1993. The school system is waiting for the outcome of an investigation by the N.C. High School Athletic Association before deciding whether students will face discipline.

The system declined to release a video recording of the fight on Wednesday, citing the ongoing athletic association investigation and violation of student privacy.

Four Andrews players and five from Robbinsville were ejected. Both teams lost playoff privileges.

The high schools are in neighboring counties about 30 minutes apart, making the game a natural rivalry.

Even so, Lane said, the fans should have stayed on the bleachers.

“It's not what sports are all about,” he said.

Orr said he's sorry for being involved.

“I am embarrassed about it,” he said. “I really hate to say I did that.”

Posted in: Cherokee County schools,Kent and Judy Orr,Robbinsville,Sharain Colbert