New Miami Schools officials say no racial taunting before 'flagrant violent foul'

No racial slurs from players or fans happened prior to a “violent flagrant foul” during a recent basketball game between New Miami and a Cincinnati high school, according to a statement released Monday by district officials.

New Miami’ statement comes in the wake of some on social media claiming in the days following the Jan. 13 game there were racial taunts heard by some during the game prior to the incident.

New Miami Superintendent Rhonda Parker said witness investigations involving referees, school officials and fans showed no racial slurs were uttered before or after a Cincinnati Oyler High School player allegedly kicked a New Miami player in the head after a foul on a fast-break.

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“No spectators from Oyler other than the Oyler School principal, videographer, and bus driver attended the game. Only 40 spectators from New Miami attended the game. Given the limited attendance it was relatively easy to hear what was said by spectators and players,” Parker said.

“After social media postings from individuals who were not at the game alleged that New Miami spectators and athletes used racial slurs and made inflammatory comments, both Cincinnati Public Schools and New Miami conducted investigations.”

The three referees working the game, said Parker, reported “they did not hear any racial slurs or insensitive comments from any players or spectators, and that they did not receive complaints from anyone at the game about such conduct. No New Miami administrators or coaches heard any racial slurs or comments.

“A review of the video of the game does not substantiate the (racial taunting) allegations.”

Officials with Cincinnati Public Schools did not respond Monday to requests for comment.

WCPO-TV earlier reported an interview with the New Miami player who appeared in a game video, which was recorded by Butler County Sports Report and posted on YouTube, to be kicked in the head.

Deanza Duncan, the African-American New Miami player on the other end of the alleged kick, said claims of racial taunting during the game were untrue.

“As a part of the African-American community, I would never,” he said. “If my teammates did, I would never stand by it and let that happen. And they did not say it.”

“The Oyler player who committed the foul walked back to the New Miami player who was still on the ground and kicked him before running out of the gym,” wrote Parker. “The Oyler player was ejected for this violent flagrant foul. At that point the Oyler coach forfeited the game.”

(WCPO-TV contributed to this story)

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About the Author

Michael D. Clark

Michael Clark has covered northern Greater Cincinnati K-12 schools for more than two decades. Schools – whether they be public or private or post-secondary – are often the centerpieces of communities. This is especially true for Ohio’s Butler and southern Warren counties, two of the most populous and fastest growing areas in the state.