Barton Cleared to Play for Class 2A State Title as Investigation Continues Into Postgame Brawl
The Barton Bears will be allowed to compete for the Class 2A state championship despite an altercation that broke out following their semifinal victory at the 2A state tournament in Poyen.
The Arkansas Activities Association has not released an official statement regarding the incident or Barton’s eligibility to play in the title game. However, Barton Dean of Students Ryan Koert told Kyle Sutherland in an interview Monday night that the Bears have been cleared to compete for the championship. Koert did not announce whether any Barton players have been suspended as a result of the incident.
The altercation occurred Saturday as the semifinal game between Barton and England concluded. Authorities said the fight involved what they described as an extremely large crowd of student-athletes and fans from both schools.
The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has since opened a criminal investigation into the incident.
According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, deputies responded to the scene along with the Arkansas State Police, Sheridan Police Department, other assisting agencies and school officials to restore order.
“At this time the Grant County Sheriff’s Office has opened a criminal investigation into the incident and will be pursuing criminal charges against parties involved,” the release stated.
Officials also thanked Poyen Schools for assisting with the response and expressed appreciation to Grant County residents who were not involved in what the department described as “extremely embarrassing behavior.”
Authorities said they plan to meet with the Arkansas Activities Association and Poyen Schools to discuss measures aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
“Going forward the Grant County Sheriff’s Office will be in talks with the Arkansas Activities Association and Poyen Schools to attempt to prevent this type of incident from occurring in our county again,” the release stated.
No names of individuals who may face charges have been released, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The Bears advanced to the championship game after edging England 52-51 in a tightly contested semifinal. Barton demonstrated late-game composure in the one-possession victory.
Mt. Vernon-Enola also survived a close semifinal to reach the title game, defeating Sloan-Hendrix 62-59. The Warhawks have relied on balanced scoring and timely perimeter shooting throughout the tournament.
Barton and Mt. Vernon-Enola will meet for the Class 2A state championship Thursday in Hot Springs, with both teams entering the matchup after navigating narrow semifinal wins.