FAIRFIELD -- A day after a fight cut short a boys basketball game between Lawrence and Lewiston high schools, officials from both schools awaited word on punishment. It's clear that suspensions are coming, but exactly how many still needed to be figured out as of Saturday night.

The bench-clearing fight began at the end of the third quarter, and involved players from each team as well as crowd members. Six Fairfield police officers were called to the scene, and officers said the incident involved as many as 50 people. There were no injuries reported, and the Fairfield police said on Saturday no arrests are expected and the matter has been turned back to the schools.

After the melee, the Lewiston players were sent directly to the bus, and the game was declared over. Lawrence led, 45-35, and Lewiston has forfeited the game, Lawrence head coach Mike McGee said.

McGee said he thought as many as nine of his players could get a one-game suspension. McGee added that he also could face discipline for leaving the coach's box in front of the bench, when he went on to the court to try and help restore order. A number of Lewiston players and coaches could also be forced to sit out at least one game.

"My (players') parents are calling me off the hook. They want to know what's going on," McGee said.

The incident began when Lewiston was issued back-to-back technical fouls at the end of the third quarter. A Lewiston player then hit a Lawrence player, and that's when the fight broke out. Both benches cleared, and fans spilled from the Folsom Gym bleachers on to the court.

Peter Webb, the head of the state's high school basketball officials, was told of the incident on Friday night, and was given a copy of the tape. Webb said he spent Saturday awaiting the reports from the three referees who officiated the game, Roger Poulin, Tom Fifield, and Jonathan McLaughlin.

The Maine Principals' Association rules call for a one-game suspension for any player or coach who is thrown out of a game. Normally, the referees are able to go to the scorer's table and make it clear which player has been ejected. On Friday night, things deteriorated so quickly, officials were unable to do that, Webb said.

"That's what we're going to learn from the officials' reports," Webb said. "The whole end of the game was a mess."

Once Webb gives the schools the names of the players and coaches who must sit out one game, each school will decide if additional punishment is needed. As of Saturday night, neither Lawrence athletic director Bill MacManus nor Lewiston athletic director Jason Fuller had decided if more suspensions would be handed down.

"Until we get what (Webb) tells us, we don't want to speculate," MacManus said. "We're waiting for what he says, and we can go from there."

"We're just looking and waiting for the facts," Fuller said. "When that happens, we'll decide on appropriate discipline. I know both schools are working together closely."

Lawrence is scheduled to host Hampden Academy on Tuesday. Lewiston is scheduled to play that same night at Brunswick High School.

Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com