New Miami Local Schools says its students and parents did not use racial slurs during a basketball game at the Butler County school with Oyler High School that ended early Jan. 13.
The game was called during the third quarter after a New Miami player was injured by a hard foul from an Oyler player, officials said. No further physical altercations ensued.
New Miami says it conducted an investigation "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."
An Oyler coach and player at the game told The Enquirer they heard offensive language and saw disturbing gestures from the New Miami community "the second we walked into the gym" that day.
More: 'This time the parents got involved.' Racial slurs, hard foul end New Miami v. Oyler basketball game
"At no point during the game or prior to the departure of Oyler did any person allege that racial slurs, inflammatory statements, or any other unsportsmanlike behavior was committed by any person other than the Oyler player who was ejected for kicking a New Miami player," a Monday release from New Miami reads.
The New Miami release says only three spectators from Oyler were present at the game: Oyler school principal Amy Randolph, a videographer and a bus driver. There were 40 spectators from New Miami.
"Given the limited attendance it was relatively easy to hear what was said by spectators and players," the release states.
Randolph declined to comment about the game and directed The Enquirer to Fran Russ, the district's spokesperson. Russ has yet to provide an update on the Cincinnati Public Schools investigation Monday afternoon.
New Miami, CPS and the Butler County Sheriff's Office each conducted investigations after a New Miami player was kicked in the head by an Oyler player during the Jan. 13 game. The foul can be seen on the Butler County High School Sports Report YouTube page.
Police closed the investigation last week without any charges or arrests.
"The victim's 18 years old," Butler County Sheriff's spokesperson Sgt. Kim Peters said. "So (the detective) advised the victim if he wanted to assign assault charges he would have to go to the Hamilton Municipal Court and do so. Which is what we tell every adult in that jurisdiction."
An incident report filed with the Butler County Sheriff's Office states the New Miami player went to block the Oyler player from making a basket when he fell onto the court. When he attempted to get up, the Oyler player "kicks (the New Miami player) in the head and proceeds to run off the court," the report reads.
The document says the New Miami student did not request medical care at the time of the incident or afterward and that there were no "observable markings" on his head.
More: No charges filed after racial slurs, hard foul end New Miami v. Oyler basketball game
"Witnesses stated there was no prior altercation or conversation between the two individuals," according to the incident report.
The New Miami release says its investigation is based on conversations with three officials for the game, each of whom provided a statement and affirmed "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 allegations," the release reads.
The Enquirer will update this report.
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