BY MARK MORING, Eastern Shore Post, Jan. 23, 2026
The Nandua High School girls basketball team has forfeited five games after least five of its players were suspended from the team for fighting or leaving the bench at the end of a Jan. 14 game at Crisfield.
Nandua (2-3) has forfeited games Jan. 20 against Holly Grove Christian, Jan. 22 at Pocomoke, Jan. 26 at Salisbury School, and two district games, Jan. 27 at Northampton and Jan. 29 against Chincoteague, according to the Eastern Shore District’s website, www.easternshoredistrictva.org
The games will be forfeited because Nandua will not have enough players to field a team, according to people with knowledge of the incident. The people were granted anonymity by the Post because they were not authorized to speak about the suspensions.
Sources said tensions were running high near the end of the game at Crisfield. Late in the fourth quarter, several players from both teams dove for a loose ball on the floor, and in the scramble for possession, contact was made.
Things escalated quickly, and punches were thrown from both sides, said a source who called it “aggressive and ugly.” A video shows players from both teams left their benches, and several others came onto the floor from the bleachers.
Referees called the game off afterward. It was recorded as a cancellation.
Nandua coach Shaquontae Kellam and athletic director Luke Brankley declined to comment and referred inquiries to the school board office.
Danielle Clark, the district’s public information officer, declined to answer questions, saying, “Accomack County Public Schools has handled the matter in accordance with both the division’s and (Virginia High School League) policies.” The VHSL governs state high school sports.
The school district handbook states that the mandatory consequence for fighting another student is five days of out-of-school suspension for the first offense.
Mike McCall, VHSL director of communications, said he could not comment on specifics of the incident, but did note that “if you leave the bench during a fight, there’s an automatic suspension, even if you don’t engage. You cannot cross that line onto the court. You have to remain on the bench.”
The VHSL Handbook spells out consequences for specific types of actions in an altercation. Rule 27-11-6 says in part: “For engaging in fighting (including throwing punches as an instigator, in retaliation, or intentionally kicking or stomping an opponent), biting or aggressive physical contact shall result in a suspension from contests totaling a minimum of 30% of the total contest limitations for that sport (a player shall be ineligible for the team’s scheduled contests until the suspension is completed). … Student/athletes who leave the bench area and become actively involved in an altercation will result in a suspension from contests totaling a minimum of 20% of the total contest limitations for that sport.”
Nandua’s athletic handbook states that “Good sportsmanship is an area of special emphasis at Nandua High School,” and that every athlete is expected to “retain his/her composure at all times and never leave the bench or enter the playing field/court to engage in a fight.”
It is unknown how many Crisfield players were punished. Crisfield officials decided to close its next game to the public with only players, coaches, officials, and required school staff allowed to attend. The school’s social media page noted, “This temporary measure is being taken to ensure student safety and to reinforce expectations for appropriate behavior at school-sponsored events.”
