Basketball: Boucher suspended, fined over court, carpark clashes

By JULIE ASH

Breakers and Tall Black forward Dillon Boucher has been suspended for two games and fined $1000 after an on-court clash with the Perth Wildcats' Rashad Tucker which led to a carpark dust-up.

The Breakers asked the Australian NBL to investigate an incident that occurred between Tucker and Boucher after Wednesday night's match in Christchurch.

Breakers general manager Peter Chapman alleged that Tucker punched Boucher, who suffered a split lip.

It followed an episode on court where Boucher was cited for an unsportsmanlike foul on Tucker and ejected from the match late in the third quarter.

The ANBL charged both teams with bringing the game into disrepute through the off-court incident and laid one charge against Tucker for punching and one charge of misconduct against Boucher.

Boucher was also charged with striking and unsportsmanlike behaviour for the on-court incident. He admitted the striking charge.

ANBL tribunal chairman Ken Madsen took into account Boucher's admission, his good record in New Zealand basketball and his remorse expressed before fining him $1000 and handing him a two-match suspension, which took effect immediately.

This ruled him out of last night's game and the Breakers' next match, against Victoria on Wednesday night.

The charge of unsportsmanlike behaviour was dropped because it was outweighed by the seriousness of the striking charge.

Boucher denied the charge of misconduct for the off-court incident, but was found culpable.

However, because of the penalty for the on-court incident, he received no further penalty.

Tucker denied the punching charge, but was found culpable.

He received a one-game suspension which meant he, too, sat out last night's game.