UPDATE: Coach resigns after brawl during basketball game

PIKE COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) -- A basketball coach has resigned following a brawl during a middle school basketball game.

Earlier this month, the Belfry Middle School boys basketball team was playing at Phelps.

The school district's attorney, Neal Smith, says comments were exchanged between the Belfry coaches and referees during the game.

During the second quarter, a brawl spilled onto the court. Belfry Head Coach, Bobby Varney ll, and Volunteer Assistant Coach Tommy Varney were involved in the fight, along with two referees and six other adults, said Smith.

Bobby Varney was suspended without pay for the rest of the season. Smith tells WSAZ he has since resigned from the coaching position.

The other adults, including the referees, were banned from any Pike County Schools athletic events for the remained of the school year.

We are told no players were involved in the fight.

Varney will continue teaching in the school system.

PIKE COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) -- A head coach has been suspended and several people are banned from Pike County Schools athletic events for the rest of the year after fight broke out at a middle school basketball game.

Last Thursday, the Belfry Middle School boys basketball team was playing at Phelps.

The school district's attorney, Neal Smith, says comments were exchanged between the Belfry coaches and referees during the game.

During the second quarter, a brawl spilled onto the court. Belfry Head Coach, Bobby Varney ll, and Volunteer Assistant Coach Tommy Varney were involved in the fight along with two referees and six other adults, said Smith.

Smith said the school board has suspended the Belfry head coach without pay for the rest of the season. The other adults, including the referees, were banned from any Pike County Schools athletic events for the remainder of the school year.

"Eight adults who had engaged in very inappropriate conduct under the circumstances," said Smith.

We're told no players were involved in the fight.

Both schools were forced to forfeit the game Thursday. They will not play each other again this season. Smith said, because they had one more game scheduled that they must forfeit, a win will be given to each team.

Smith said Coach Varney also teaches at the school. He will be allowed to continue teaching.

Varney's father, Pike County Magistrate Bobby Varney, stepped in. He's seen being kicked by a referee in the video.

Our sister station WYMT asked Varney Sr. for a comment but he declined.

Smith said at least one of the referees involved in the fight is a licensed KHSAA official.

"Just remember the officials are trying their best, to do the best job they can," said KHSAA referee Tim Sammons. "Whether you like officials or not, you gotta have 'em. We have to be part of the game."

Sammons was not at the game last Thursday, but he is officiating the Belfry Middle School game this evening. He is hoping for a much different outcome than last week.

"It saddens me; It breaks my heart," said Sammons. "We're here to help the student athletes become better student athletes. We're here to help the fans enjoy the game. We're here to help the coaches make their players better players."

Sammons said he looks at the game from the perspective of an official, a father and a Christian.

"If you'll just bow your head as an official and say be with me, Lord, you'll be surprised what a difference that will make," said Sammons. "How can we be an example? If we're supposed to be Christ-like, how can we be an example? If we take something like that action, how can we be mad at our children because they're going to act just exactly like we act."