Monkey noises directed at high school basketball player in Texas. ‘Broke my heart’

A high school basketball player called a student section’s actions “sad, heartbreaking and uncalled for” after monkey noises were directed at her during a game in Texas.

The incident happened on Friday, Nov. 18, as Asia Prudhomme’s East Central High School girls basketball team faced Marble Falls High School.

As Prudhomme stepped to the free-throw line in the first quarter, monkey noises could be heard coming from several people in the stands. Prudhomme is the star player for East Central, averaging 18.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.

KSAT reported the chants were directed at Prudhomme throughout the first half until a parent spoke to a Marble Falls administrator at halftime.

In a Twitter post on Saturday, Prudhomme called for the students involved in the chant to be punished.

“Can’t even play basketball without ignorance and racism in the stands,” said Prudhomme, who is Black. “This really broke my heart, my coaches and my teammates.”

Marble Falls won the game 58-50. The school has not commented on the incident, but canceled its game Saturday “due to unforeseen circumstances.”

Prudhomme’s comments were supported by East Central head coach Vanessa Villarreal and athletic director Suzette Arriola, who both spoke about the “racial situation that was very hurtful and unacceptable.”

“This situation was hard. Speaking to my girls about this was hard,” Villarreal said on Twitter. “Our weekend was not ruined by this. Our kids grew & I wish I could show what our girls did on the bus once we discussed it. Our girls are amazing people who love each other so much! I love them for that!”

“After the hurtful behaviors recently demonstrated by the fans of an opposing school, we want our community to know that ECISD stands behinds its players,” Arriola said in a statement. “Diversity is one of our key core values. Our coaches and administration believes ‘all means all.’ We are sorry our players had to endure this from spectators and we are working quickly with their administration and coaching staff to resolve this situation.”

East Central High School is in San Antonio and Marble Falls High School is in Burnet County, about 50 miles northwest of Austin.

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