SCHS vs CHS Basketball Game 2017
About
Every year, the annual SCHS vs CHS Basketball Game occurs during Basketball season between rival high schools Sage Creek High School and Carlsbad High School.
2017’s game was the most notable thus far, going as far as to make national news. It was notable not for its gameplay or score, but rather because of the actions leading up to and especially during the game.
Game
The game ultimately ended in a loss of 60-65.[1]
Controversy
Almost every year the two rival schools played each other, students would take to Twitter to trash talk the other school, with far heavier criticism raining down on Sage Creek.
In 2016-2017, tensions were especially high for two reasons:
1. This was the last year for the Class of 2017, which was the first class to be split and ever had to choose between two high schools.
2. Sage Creek had become much more competitive and was finally at the same level playing field with Carlsbad High School.
At this point, both schools were at each other and looking for any reason to snap.
Before the game, some CHS ASB members posted on Instagram that they had a "special surprise" planned for this game.
About three-quarters of the way into the game, Carlsbad high ASB students held up three "K" signs which at this point happened to come together. To onlookers, it appeared that the signs were intended to spell out "KKK" which quickly was posted to many stories and began to be shared on social media. It would spread very quickly with many immediately condemning the students' actions, and would also receive a lot of backlash from CHS students who thought the issue was being overblown.
Students circulated unconfirmed rumors that this was possibly the intended "surprise" but these were never confirmed.
Images of the display ended up making national media, from Fox[2] to Barstool[3] and ultimately ended in a stain on all of CUSD.
Because of all the media attention and hostility, CHS announced their withdrawal from Battle of the Fans 2017[4].
The following year, SCHS would also opt out of the competition to allow some time to pass before trying again, but would go on to win the competition in the 2018-2019 school year.
Repair
Both schools had a lot to deal with in the wake of this incident, and both created their own PSA's (CHS, SCHS) in order to help their communities move past it.
ASB students from both schools were required to come together for essentially "couples therapy" provided by a third party at the district office.