Fight ends in player arrest

A prep basketball blowout turned ugly last Friday night when a sideline skirmish ended in the arrest of a South Terrebonne player.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock in Ellender’s 95-45 road victory over the Gators, players on both sides lined up to shake hands – a normal occurrence at every prep sports activity.

But during the lineup, South Terrebonne player Jermaine Washington attacked Ellender senior forward Justin Johnson – striking him in the head and face area before being restrained, police said.

Johnson was taken to Terrebonne General Medical where he was treated for a lip contusion and a possible concussion.

Authorities said that Washington knocked Johnson unconscious in the attack.

Immediately following the incident, police detained the South Terrebonne player, but charges were not formally filed until Saturday.

Washington is being charged with second-degree battery.

Following his arrest, he has since been freed from the Terrebonne Parish Jail after posting bond.

If found guilty of the charges, Washington could face a maximum sentence of five years in jail.

By all accounts given to the Tri-Parish Times at press-time, the attack on Johnson’s was unprovoked.

Sources close to the Ellender boys’ basketball program said that Johnson did not say anything to the Gators’ player to incite the alleged beating, but was just standing in line waiting to touch hands with the other South Terrebonne players.

Johnson’s prep playing career has made him a natural rival to the Gators across a couple sports.

Johnson started his high school days as a student at the Bourg public high school – a member of both the Gators’ football and basketball teams in his earliest playing days.

But Johnson transferred to Ellender in the middle of his junior football season – a move that ignited a rivalry between the schools because of their close proximity.

Johnson played for the Gators in the beginning of the 2012 prep football season and then later played against them in the same season – something that doesn’t often occur via the LHSAA’s transfer rules.

Johnson has been released from Terrebonne General Medical Center, but it is not yet known how long he will be sidelined with his injuries.

Ellender closed out its regular season last night against Vandebilt. The Patriots are a lock to play in the postseason.

The Gators’ regular season ended against the Patriots last Friday. They will not reach the postseason. 

Johnson’s playing career will continue past Ellender.

He recently signed a National Letter of Intent to play college football at Arkansas Baptist where he is expected to be among the team’s stable of halfbacks.