A controversial basketball game won't be happening, at least not Friday night. The principal of the David School in Floyd County announced Friday their game with Allen Central High School will be rescheduled. This all comes in the midst of a debate over Allen Central's use of the rebel flag at school events.

The David School principal said the David players never had a problem with Allen Central or their rebel mascot, but she says they were thrown into the controversy and it was safer to postpone Friday night's game.

Allen Central and David School basketball players have to wait a little longer to play each other.

"We're still wanting to play the game tonight, but everyone else feels we should wait," said David School Basketball Player Nathan Robinson.

Both Allen Central and David School principals say their students have gotten hate mail and threats from outsiders over the controversy surrounding Allen Central's rebel mascot, so both felt it was better not to play Friday night.

"The administration did not necessarily feel they would be safe, you never know who's gonna show up," said Allen Central High Principal Lorena "Sis" Hall.

The controversy surrounding the Allen Central-David School game started when David School coaches accused Allen Central students of waiving a rebel flag near the David players, including a minority player, at last year's game. David coaches said they didn't want to play Allen Central this year because of it. But Friday, David players said the incident didn't happen.

"I was at the game and don't remember seeing anything like that," Robinson said.

"I specifically addressed the members of the basketball team, and even redirected a question to our black player. The team stated they had no problem playing Allen Central," said David School Administrator Emma Kriz.

"As a team, we don't have any hard feelings against Allen Central. We still are looking forward to playing the game," said David School Player Alex Hall.

Both sides say they didn't create the rebel flag controversy and are upset it's grown this big.

"Let us be instruments of peace," Kriz said.

But they hope their future game may be a step towards ending the controversy.

Allen Central players were unavailable for comment. A date hasn't been set yet for the game, but both sides are working together to reschedule the game.