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Judge’s order adds Griffith, Hammond back into state tourney

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – A judge has cleared the way for two high school basketball teams to join Indiana’s boys basketball state tournament despite a brawl that led to the cancellation of the teams’ remaining seasons.

The Indiana High School Athletics Association canceled Hammond and Griffith’s remaining boys basketball seasons and imposed other sanctions after the bench-clearing Feb. 7 brawl.

But both schools challenged that decision in court.

The (Munster) Times reports that a Lake County judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday that allows the schools’ basketball teams into this week’s Class 3A Hammond Sectional.

The sectional begins Thursday and the championship game will be played on Monday.

Students and administrators from both schools say they don’t condone the student-athletes’ actions but they are collectively sorry for the brawl.