It's arguably the WPIAL's most intense basketball rivalry. Too bad nobody will be there to see it. Players, coaches, referees and administrators will be the only ones permitted in the gymnasium today when Deer Lakes (1-3 section, 2-10 overall) visits Hampton (3-2, 7-6) in a WPIAL Section 1-AAA boys game. The teams' third consecutive closed-gym game is to begin at 4 p.m. The same small group will be in attendance on Feb. 1 when the teams play at Deer Lakes. Even the media has been banned from covering the games. For the past few years, Deer Lakes and Hampton have developed a relationship that can only be described as ugly. There have been plenty of scary moments during games, one resulting in an injury to a referee. There has been shouting, name-calling and resentment. But things may be changing. On the eve of their first meeting of the season, the neighboring schools apparently want to stop the pushing and shoving, and start over. "It's never too late to fix things," Hampton head coach Joe Lafko said. "Rivalries can be healthy, too." Neither coach is worried about an altercation at today's game. "It's like the Pistons and Pacers," Deer Lakes head coach Kevin Smetak said. "When they played on Christmas Day, everybody knew nothing was going to happen. The players were embarrassed and disappointed. "Nothing is going to happen (today)." "The kids obviously want to play in front of their peers and family members," said Hampton Athletic Director Bill Cardone. "But our objective is to get things back in order." Smetak said the teams competed in the same team camp over the summer and had no problems. It's their recent past that has caused a stir. The beginning When did this rivalry start? "No one seems to know," said Deer Lakes Athletic Director Jan McDowell. "But we're working on trying to make things better." Smetak insists the ill-will stems from the behavior of fans. "That's what people don't understand," Smetak said. "This whole thing is between the fans, not the players. The people losing in this are the players." It looks as if things heated up two years ago. Smetak said fans in the student sections exchanged words during the game at Hampton. "Maybe 'rivalry' isn't the right word," he said. "It comes down to maybe 1 or 2 percent of the student population creating the problems." The situation escalated, and officials stopped the game. Several people were escorted from the gym. The quarrel apparently moved to a lounge in Hampton, where a fight broke out. "Like I said: It has nothing to do with the players," Smetak said. Soon after, the schools agreed to play two closed-gym games during the 2003-04 season, although family members were permitted to attend. Hampton won both meetings, by scores of 65-42 and 63-35. A now infamous incident reportedly involving a Hampton fan body slamming an official occurred in the teams' second meeting of last year. Peter Dukovich, the man accused of picking up official Ronald Bell and dropping him onto the hardwood, will face an assault charge Tuesday in Allegheny County Court. Raelynn Dukovich, Peter's wife, also was arrested at the game. Both were charged with disorderly conduct. Cardone said the matter was never brought before the WPIAL, with the schools settling "out of court," so to speak, agreeing to lock out the public, including families. "We both thought that would be best," Cardone said. "We want a healthy relationship between these schools. I think that's where we're headed." "We know the administrators and athletic directors did everything humanly possible to get in front of the situation," WPIAL Executive Director Larry Hanley said. "We have to keep things in perspective. "This is a kids' game that adults worry about." Unique perspective Lafko, more than anyone, wants the teams to reconcile. He not only teaches and coaches at Hampton, but he has lived in West Deer for seven years. " I have two children in the Deer Lakes School District," he said. "One is in kindergarten, the other in second grade. I have a personal interest in all of this." Lafko remembers one incident involving players from both schools. "We were at a Geneva camp two summers ago," he said. "A Hampton player and a Deer Lakes player got into it after a play. But things cooled down. I don't know if that had anything to do with the whole rivalry thing." Lafko said that incident was a rarity. Hampton plays Deer Lakes twice a year. So he was shocked when the melee erupted Feb. 6. "In my nine years coaching here, we only had that one incident, and that was last year," Lafko said. Pitching in Student councils from both schools assembled recently to discuss ways to promote peace between the Lancers and Talbots. "We have talked about plans to get the teams together at some point," Cardone said. "We want them to get together outside of the court." A bowling night has been suggested, where players would team up with opposing players. "Maybe it will be the guards versus the big guys," Cardone said. "We also want to take the teams out to dinner. We want them to have a better relationship." "What they're doing is great," Smetak said. Tim Dukovich, student council president at Hampton and the son of Peter and Raelynne Dukovich, is spearheading the peacemaking process. He was on the Hampton basketball team last year, but is not playing this season. The coaches and athletic directors believe the students' involvement will help to rebuild bridges. "You really have to applaud students from Hampton and Deer Lakes for their involvement," Lafko said. "We want the players to follow suit with what the student leadership is providing." McDowell said alterations to next year's games between the schools have not been discussed, but Lafko said he hopes doors can be reopened to families and the public.

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---