The outrageous incident occurred after the team for the Northville Central School District lost to its competitor in a state championship game.
A girls’ basketball coach, Jim Zullo, from Northville Central School District in New York’s Adirondacks, was dismissed after a troubling incident at the end of a state championship game.
Following the team’s loss to LaFargeville Central School District in the Class D New York State championship, the coach was caught on video pulling a player’s ponytail while scolding her.
The emotional player, Hailey Monroe, appeared visibly upset as another teammate, Ahmya Tompkins, one of Zullo’s nieces, tried to intervene.
The footage quickly circulated on social media and local news, drawing widespread criticism. In response, the Northville Central School District acted swiftly, condemning the coach’s behavior and terminating his position.
They wrote in a letter to athletes, families, and the community, “We hold our coaches to the highest standards of professionalism, sportsmanship, and respect for our student-athletes, and this behavior is completely unacceptable.”
Administrators also assured the public that the incident was being taken seriously. They pledged to provide support to the affected players and their families, reiterating that such conduct had no place in their athletic programs.
Moving forward, the district reaffirmed its dedication to upholding values of integrity and respect within the school community.
Following Zullo’s dismissal, the former Northville girls’ basketball coach issued a statement expressing remorse for his actions. He apologized to the player, Monroe, her family, the team, and the Northville community.
Zullo acknowledged that his behavior was unacceptable and stated that he deeply regretted putting his hands on a player.
He added, “I wish I could have those moments back. I am grateful for the opportunity to have coached girls basketball at Northville the past two years, especially last season, which was a difficult time for our family. I am super proud of every one of these young women and what they accomplished.”
Zullo also shared his confidence in the teams’ future success, “I know each of them will go on to do great things and I wish them well.”
The former coach’s statement conveyed a sense of genuine remorse for his actions. As much as the incident has brought an abrupt end to his coaching tenure, his words reflected regret and appreciation for his time with the team.
While the coach’s firing sparks fresh headlines, the basketball world is still feeling the impact of a much more tragic event that occurred earlier this year.
Tragedy struck in North Philadelphia when 17-year-old Noah Scurry, a high school basketball player and top student, was fatally shot near his home.
The incident occurred just before 7:15 a.m. on January 14, 2025, in an alleyway behind the Rorer Street rowhomes in the Feltonville neighborhood, according to Philadelphia police.
Noah was preparing to head to school with his mother when the attack happened. School District of Philadelphia spokesperson Monique Braxton confirmed that the two were about to get into their car when gunfire erupted.
Speaking on behalf of the school district, she expressed, “The principal, coach, players, classmates, peers, are distraught. This is unimaginable for them. The student was getting in the car with his mom this morning in the back of his home, and he was shot and killed.”
A law enforcement source reported that dozens of shots were fired at the teenager. Noah was hit multiple times throughout his body, police said.
One neighbor recounted the horrifying moment, “I heard gunshots — multiple — and then just screaming from the mom. I can still hear the mom’s mother cry, seeing her baby on that floor like that.”
Medics arrived on the scene and rushed Noah to a nearby hospital. Despite their efforts, the teen was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. Police did not disclose a possible motive for the shooting or announce any arrests.
Noah’s death shook the North Philadelphia community, especially his school, Samuel Fels High School. Melissa Rasper, the school’s principal, shared a statement on the day of the tragedy, describing him as a standout student.
“The student recently scored the highest among the Fels community on the SAT college placement tests,” she said.
Noah was also a talented basketball player. His achievements extended beyond academics. In light of the incident, the school canceled all boys’ basketball games for the rest of the week.
Melissa also said, “Ours is a tight-knit community, and I know that this is difficult news to receive even when it doesn’t occur on school property.”
— Noah Scurry (@NoahScurry) August 12, 2024
“Death is rarely something that is easy to accept, especially when it involves a young person, a classmate, and particularly during these times as our city grapples with heightened gun violence,” noted the school principal.
Melissa acknowledged the emotional impact of the loss, emphasizing the importance of mental health support during this difficult time. “To support the emotional needs of our students, we have counseling and support services available for those who may need assistance coping with this grief,” she added.
Crisis response teams and school counselors were on-site to provide immediate help to staff and students. The grief among students was palpable. A video captured the somber mood at the school following the news.
“The basketball boys weren’t in the lunchroom. The whole school seemed upset. I saw people crying. It was just traumatic,” shared Mohamed Elfaki, a 10th-grade student.
Noah’s family was left grappling with an unimaginable loss. A GoFundMe campaign organized by his cousin, Breanna McGlynn, sought to raise funds for his funeral expenses.
Breanna described Noah as having “such a caring and loving heart” and noted his dedication to his family, especially his siblings.
2025 combo Noah Scurry had it going against Northeast to help lead his team to a win. Curry finished with 27 points. pic.twitter.com/GTrFbO3tkB
— RareFootage (@RareFootageNews) January 27, 2024
“He was one of the top students in his school, achieving the highest score on the SAT college placement test out of his entire grade,” the campaign reads.
It also highlighted his lifelong passion for basketball, which he had pursued from a young age, and mentioned that colleges were scouting him. As of January 17, 2025, the fundraiser had collected $5,232 out of its $5,500 goal, with contributions from 122 donors.
Noah’s social media accounts painted a picture of a young man with ambition and resilience. He shared his last post on Instagram on December 29, 2024.
It read, “You wonder why they proud of me because I gave my block hope, I’m learning now I got to play my haters close they gonna hate you even if you got a bag or you broke keep my head above water they gonna try to sink the boat.”
Player of the game for the 15U championship game 💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/F0BZuZ6M4G
— Noah Scurry (@NoahScurry) April 4, 2023
His final post on X featured a short clip from a basketball game, dated December 11, 2024. He proudly captioned it with his game scores, “Stats against La Salle College High 24 points 3 assist 4 rebounds.”
Stats against La Salle College High 24 points 3 assist 4rebounds pic.twitter.com/QvuWgHuePf
— Noah Scurry (@NoahScurry) December 11, 2024
Noah’s death reignited conversations about the rise of gun violence in Philadelphia, particularly its impact on young lives full of potential.
His tragic passing left behind a devastated family, a grieving school community, and a neighborhood mourning the loss of a young man with a bright future ahead.
