Season canceled for team at center of assault investigation

The school board has a special meeting scheduled for Wednesday to discuss “consideration of action regarding the Ooltewah High boys’ basketball team and for review of school board policy and procedures regarding bullying and hazing”, according to WRCB-TV. Smith said he was taking this “very unusual step” with the high school “so that the criminal justice system can work the way we expect”.

Three juveniles face rape and aggravated assault charges in connection with injuries to a 15-year-old team-mate, who underwent surgery after being attacked during an overnight trip to the Smoky Mountain Basketball Tournament in Gatlinburg.

All four say they were victims of assault, but the player who was hospitalized was apparently treated more harshly because he “spoke up”, according to sources.

The alleged assault – which is being referred to as an apparent hazing incident – occurred in a cabin on a team trip to Gatlinburg in December for a basketball tournament. However, Highlander said board members will meet with school district attorneys behind closed doors and then have a public session on the incident. “I have asked that specific questions of law enforcement and they’ve said they can’t comment on it”.

Welch said he welcomes local law enforcement involvement in the investigation, and said he hopes it will assure the public the situation is being properly investigated.

The Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday that it, along with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, will “investigate allegations” of previous assaults prior to the one in December.

“This decision is not a reflection upon the coaching staff”, Smith said.

The three alleged attackers have reportedly been kicked off the team, but the victim’s family wants them permanently expelled, as well.

While no other criminal behavior has been reported, police in Hamilton County are now investigating whether an “ongoing pattern of assaults” has occurred on the team.

But a group of Ooltewah High School students at Wednesday night’s school board meeting said all the negative attention on their school in the past two weeks is not a fair representation.

The victim’s family has called for the coach, Andrew “Tank” Montgomery, the athletic director and the assistant coaches to be suspended while the investigation is ongoing. Other reports seem to confirm that the basketball program at Ooltewah has had a toxic culture for some time, one enabled by those in charge. He said he also thinks the school board will consider creating ways for students to safely report hazing.