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ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Students at a Catholic high school at the New Jersey shore have been warned but not punished after two of them dressed as a monkey and a banana during a game against a mostly black basketball team.
The Press of Atlantic City reported The Cape-Atlantic League's supervising board of referees said the students at Holy Spirit High School acted offensively during the game against Atlantic City last week.
Jay Connell, Holy Spirit's athletic director, acknowledged the actions violated league rules on sportsmanship and promised it would not happen again.
"I am not going kick anyone out of school or whip anybody. All I can do is apologize; I can't take it back," Connell said. "There is no punishment. The punishment is that it will be an event that will not happen again, and that is the punishment for Holy Spirit."
The fans also used a shower curtain to hide several spectators who jumped out from behind it in an attempt to distract Atlantic City players who were attempting free throws.
Holy Spirit's starting five players are also black.
Atlantic City Athletic Director Anthony Nistico also called the actions offensive.
"What I am appalled at is there are adults there that let this happen," he said. "These two students were allowed to walk into the gym in these costumes and with this shower curtain. What were the adults thinking? Where were the refs?"
Atlantic City beat Holy Spirit, 54-53, that night.
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Information from: The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.), http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com
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