Two historic boys basketball wins at home were celebrated in completely different fashions on Wednesday night. 

Livermore students stormed the court following what is believed to be the school's first ever win over De La Salle-Concord, 51-45, behind 29 points from super sophomore Amare Chandler. The Cowboys were 0-24 versus De La Salle since 2004 and no one could recollect a game between the teams before that. 

"Our student body is spectacular," Livermore coach Mike Tripp said. "I'm speechless because that's probably one of the biggest wins we've ever had at the school in any sport. …. I'm so glad the players got to celebrate it with their fans." 

Forty miles West at approximately the same time, with no fans in the stands, host Piedmont players hugged and celebrated heartily among themselves in a hallow gym after beating longtime nemesis Bishop O'Dowd 64-62, the school's second win over the longtime Oakland power and first since 2015. 

Beach Lorin led four Highlanders in double figures with 18 points, helping Piedmont overcome a 27-point O'Dowd first-quarter barrage and an 11-point deficit. 

"It was sad fans weren't there to enjoy it, but from a pure basketball stand point, of two teams going at it, just playing the game, it doesn't get any better," Piedmont seventh-year head coach Ben Spencer said. 

Both wins were under heavy watch due to previous home fan behavior issues that led to massive altercations and police intervention. 

The Livermore win was actually a continuation of a suspended game from Jan. 27 that was stopped with 4:04 left in the fourth quarter due to a fight in the foyer of the gym between students from Livermore and a "neighboring school," said Livermore athletic director James Petersdorf. 

The fight was significant enough that one Livermore student lost consciousness but did not require hospitalization. The game was halted with Livermore leading 44-41. "It was really unfortunate because the game was outstanding and coming down to the wire," Petersdorf said. "The kids and fans were really enjoying the game." 

Both sides found an open date to resume play Wednesday - all 4:04 of it - and the decision to allow fans ultimately came down to both administrations with Livermore principal Roxana Mohammed making the final call, according to Petersdorf. 

"She made the right call," he said Wednesday at the game. "We have three administrators here tonight. They're all working together to make sure everyone behaves. And, honestly, the problem last week wasn't between the schools or even the fans in the gym." 

The altercation at Piedmont happened right after the final horn of the Highlander's 62-52 home loss to San Leandro on Jan. 30. 

A live stream on the NFHS network showed a San Leandro player dribbling the ball out near the Piedmont student body when a pair of students (non players) bumped right along the sideline. That sparked a large fracas with numerous San Leandro players, coaches and parents and Piedmont students involved. 

In all more than three dozen people were on the floor either fighting, pushing or trying to separate bodies. 

"Everything happened so fast," Spencer said. "The whole thing was a calamity. It was terrifying what could have happened." 

Earlier that week in a Jan. 26 Southern Section boys basketball game, another big brawl erupted involving players, coaches and parents moments after Inglewood's 93-78 win at Aquinas-San Bernardino. Suspensions totaling 13 games were handed down to players by school officials. 

The Chronicle has learned that multiple suspensions have been issued to San Leandro players and coaches by school officials. Likewise, suspensions and community service notices have been served to Piedmont students involved. 

None were part of the Piedmont team or coaching staff. 

North Coast Section commissioner Pat Cruickshank said Thursday he was pleased with how all parties, including West Alameda County Conference commissioner Dave Kiesel, school leadership and teams have responded to the San Leandro-Piedmont incident. 

The section office can take additional action against programs if they don't feel member schools have reacted strongly enough.  

"That's not the case here," Cruickshank said. "Administrators on both sides are taking very proactive measures to make sure we move forward to ensure healthy, educational-based athletic events. I think we're in a good spot now." 

He particularly liked the strong messaging of not allowing fans to the O'Dowd-Piedmont game. "We definitely supported that," said Cruickshank, a former San Leandro and Heritage-Brentwood boys basketball coach who announced in the fall that this would be his final year of commissionership. "It can't be easy to make that call. It affects a lot of people." 

O'Dowd longtime coach Lou Richie actually made a call to Spencer the night of the Piedmont-San Leandro skirmish. "Total class act," Spencer said of Richie. "Just there for support. He's everything a high school coach should be." 

Richie planted the seed to play Wednesday's game with no fans. 

"All you see on social media these days are these fights at games," Richie said. "Not sure if this is normalized behavior or there's just more coverage and we're seeing it more and more. It's a privilege not a right to be a fan, and to secure safety, one solution is not to have fans. It's harsh and not ideal, but it's a solution." 

Said Spencer: "As a teacher and educator in urgent matters we are seeking teaching moments. Even though it's our biggest rivalry game and our biggest gate, we wanted to send a message that this is about kids and basketball." 

As "pure" as Wednesday's win was - the Highlanders also got 16 points from Lucian Fang-Ring, 12 by PJ Brayer and 10 by Dillon Casey - Spencer is hoping Piedmont will welcome fans back Wednesday for Senior Night against Alameda. Administrators will make that call in the coming days, he said. 

Cruickshank doesn't think widespread fanless games are on the horizon anytime soon; like the two Bay Area area fan-involved brawls that occurred last week, each needs to be evaluated individually. 

"This was one of the greatest days for Livermore athletics and it's hard to imagine our students and fans not being able to celebrate in it," Petersdorf said moments after Wednesday's win. "People nowadays are just more willing to say anything that pops into their head. 

"Even 10 years ago there was way more decorum at games. As social media has grown, people are just way more brazen in what they say, which is so unfortunate. We always encourage our students to simply cheer for your team and not against the other team. 

"But honestly, all of it is getting harder and harder to control."  

Freelance writer Mitch Stephens has covered high school sports for the Chronicle since 2001. Email: mitch@scorebooklive.com

This article originally published at With court-storming upset of De La Salle and empty stands at Piedmont, historic wins unfold after brawls.