Two Fallston Players Suspended, Coach Wants to Move On

Fallston juniors Ryan Bonhoff and Brett Kowalewski have been suspended for Friday’s state 2A East regional championship in boys basketball as a result of .

Neither player is a starter, but Cougars head coach Mark Hannahs said the punishment is not warranted for one of them.

“Brett was one of the one’s they thought was involved in the fracas. He was getting the crap beat out of him in the corner by two adults,” Hannahs said. “They suspended him, I have no idea why.”

A message left with Harford County Supervisor of Athletics Ken Zorbach was not immediately returned Friday. On Thursday, Zorbach told Patch that he could not discuss student personnel matters.

Hannahs also clarified the events that led up the fight:

“When our big kid went up for a dunk, number 33 for Elkton tomahawked him. That’s when I think it probably started because the officials didn’t call a flagrant fall and they should’ve called a flagrant foul,” Hannahs said. “I think that’s what caused the animosity.”

Hannahs said a foul by Bonhoff further strained tensions before the on-court fight.

“Ryan [fouled their player], but not a hard foul. The kid got up, pushed Ryan, he pushed him back and then the fracas started,” Hannahs said.

At that point Hannahs said he made sure his other players remained on the bench, though the threat he used was not meant literally.

“I told [my players] if they get up I’ll kill them. I guess they were more scared of me than getting in the fight,” Hannahs said Thursday. He clarified those comments Friday.

“Of course, that was a figure of speech. … If people know me they know that that’s not me. But people take that out of context and want to run with it,” Hannahs said. “I’m the one that held everybody back. While I’m holding them back I see Brett against the brick wall, where all our banners are, getting punched.”

Hannahs is also appreciative of the man whom he said saved him from getting hit by the 17-year-old Elkton fan who was choking him.

“I saw his fist coming so I even backed away more. Next thing I know I didn’t get hit and the guy behind me is the one that got hit in the head,” Hannahs said. “I didn’t even see any punches thrown by the guy who took the punch for me.”

He also maintained the innocence of Cougar supporters.

“None of the Fallston fans left their seats. I’m talking about their kids. They have a no tolerance policy at Fallston,” he said. “Most of the parents that were in the arena were trying to hold back people.”

When reached by Patch, Elkton head coach Steve Wright declined comment until the investigation is complete.

Hannahs said he was disappointed in some of the news coverage.

“WBAL is taking this story about, ‘Well they (Elkton) could press charges.’ Press charges for what?” he said. “What about my kid that got the crap beat out of him against the brick wall? … He’s got bruised ribs, he’s got a bad jaw and he’s suspended from the game tonight.”

Now the coach is trying to get his players focused on the 6 p.m. matchup at Easton.

“I told them [Thursday at practice], I said, ‘First of all, don’t be proud of what happened yesterday. Fighting never accomplished anything. The worst thing is it took away from you guys playing a great game,’” he said. “'Don’t walk around school like it was fun. Forget about it, concentrate on basketball, you’ve come too far to worry about the fighting.’ I think they got the message.”

The other three players who were on the floor during the fight—juniors Ryan Umpleby and Connor Davis and senior Zimuzo Nwaigwe—will be allowed to dress for the game.

Hannahs does not want the team’s first regional final appearance since 1993 to be overshadowed by the fight.

“I want everybody to think about what my guys have accomplished because it’s been [18] years since we’ve been in a regional final,” he said. “We played a great game against Elkton, played hard and won the game.”

CORRECTION: An earlier edition of this article had a quote from Hannahs and a statement by Patch that Fallston's most recent regional final appearance was in 1985. Patch regrets the error.