Two Kansas high schools are looking into accusations that basketball players from the opposing school were treated to racial and offensive taunts by students at one of the schools.
Coach Geo Lyons claimed in a Change.org petition that his team at Topeka High School was subjected to “racist insults, assaults, and disgusting comments” during a game against Valley Center High School on Saturday. He added that throughout the game, Valley Center students teased his squad by using a Black baby doll.
To ban Valley Center High School supporters from sporting events, Lyons has initiated a petition.
The Associated Press left a message for Lyons on Tuesday, but she didn’t respond. However, he claimed to KSN-TV that a curse was being chanted by the Valley Center student section while his son was attempting a free throw. Additionally, he claimed that his crew heard racial slurs and was told they would be hanged.
In that dressing room, tears were pouring, Lyons recalled, “I had a down locker room.”
Topeka High School received an apology from Valley Center administrators on Monday for the students’ “unacceptable language and behavior” throughout the game.
Topeka and Valley Center officials spent the majority of the weekend watching films and speaking with participants, according to a statement from the district. Although administrators had not discovered any evidence of particularly racial comments as of Tuesday, Valley Center recognized that students had behaved improperly.
