“It ain’t over till it’s over” supposedly was one of Yogi Berra’s favorite sayings.

While I’m sure old Yogi was talking about determining the final score of a game, if you ever needed proof there can be dire consequences when sportsmanship isn’t practiced right up to the final buzzer you should have been at the Cranston West gym last Tuesday night.

By now, you probably have heard what happened that night. How, with 13 seconds remaining in a boys basketball game between Cranston West and Smithfield, a scuffle between a West and Smithfield player quickly turned into an on-court melee that involved about 100 people, including players from both teams, students and some adult fans.

When R.I. Interscholastic League officials and Cranston police had completed their review of the melee a few days later, all except a combined seven players from the two teams had been suspended for at least one game, some students had been arrested for disorderly conduct, and some parents were being warned if they ever behave that way again they will be banned from attending high school sports events.

It was the type of situation that never should happen at a high school sports event and, from my view, it all happened because of one act of poor sportsmanship with about 20 seconds left in the game.

What you probably didn’t hear in all the media accounts was that for the first 31 minutes of the scheduled 32-minute game, it was an enjoyable high school basketball contest. The action was up and down the court, and while there were some fouls, there were no more than you would see in any high school game. Certainly nothing that would make you think the night would end the way it did.

At one point early in the second half, Smithfield led by 14 points, but Cranston West came back and tied the score with a few minutes remaining. A couple of good defensive plays enabled Smithfield to regain the lead and push its advantage back to seven points with about 30 seconds to play. That’s when a Smithfield player picked off the ball and tossed a long pass to a teammate heading down the court. When the Smithfield player on the break took the pass he was several steps in front of the Cranston West player pursuing him. It should have been a meaningless layup with about 20 seconds to play. Instead, as the Smithfield player was in the air, he was hit from behind by the Cranston West player.

It was purely a frustration foul. But frustration should never overcome respect for an opponent. That type of defensive play is dangerous, especially when the opponent doesn’t expect it in the final seconds of a game in which the outcome has been decided. The Smithfield player crashed to the floor, but he easily could have crashed into the wall that is only a few feet behind the basket.

The way I see it, that was the spark that ignited the fuse. Only seven seconds after play resumed, two other players who were not involved in the foul began pushing and shoving as they struggled for a loose ball. That’s when the fight broke out.

There’s never any excuse for high school student-athletes fighting or for fans getting involved in on-court activities. Interscholastic League officials, and the police, made that clear with their suspensions and arrests.

But the incident also brings home the important message that sportsmanship can never take a break — even with only 20 seconds to play.

On the other hand . . .

Conversely, from the opening tap to the final buzzer in Friday night’s Hendricken-Hope game there was a demonstration of everything that’s good about high school basketball.

It took 32 minutes of fast, yet disciplined, play for Hope to end Hendricken’s three-year undefeated streak against Interscholastic League competition.

At one point in the second half, Hope led by 16 points, but Hendricken cut the deficit to four with a few minutes to play. Then, just when it looked like the momentum had turned in Hendricken’s favor, Hope came up with a couple of key defensive plays and added to the final margin of victory with clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch.

Hope’s 83-72 victory puts a whole new light on the Division I state tournament, which gets under way in a few weeks.

A sneak preview?

Some people are saying that last Wednesday’s regular-season showdown between Cranston West and Hendricken was a preview of what to expect in the title match of next week’s state dual match wrestling tournament.

If that’s the case, it’s going to be a great tourney.

Trailing by 11 points with only three matches to go, Cranston West maintained its undefeated record as the Falcons recorded pins in the 189, 215 and heavyweight bouts.

The opening round of the dual match tourney will be Thursday night. The semifinal and title matches are scheduled for the following Thursday night.

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The La Salle, Mount St. Charles, Cumberland and East Providence boys teams will have a chance to play at Rhode Island’s premier hockey facility Thursday night as the Dunkin’ Donuts Center plays host to an Interscholastic League doubleheader. East Providence and Cumberland will open the program at 6 p.m., followed by the 8 o’clock Division I matchup between La Salle and Mount St. Charles.

jgillool@projo.com