Special to the Journal/WKBN First News West Branch fans donned “Prayer Matters” shirts at Friday’s game.

BELOIT — The West Branch school district offered a moment of silence in place of a formal prayer prior to Friday’s basketball game after a group claimed the practice was unconstitutional.

For the past 30 years a community prayer has been offered before each varsity basketball game. That changed last month after the school district received a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, saying two people had filed complaints with the organization.

The FFRF described the practice as a “serious constitutional violation” if true because it is illegal for public schools to sponsor religious messages at school functions, including sporting events.

FFRF told West Branch it needed to end the practice immediately, and the school district complied while discussing the matter with legal counsel.

Prior to Friday’s game, the public announcer told the crowd to “please remain standing for a moment of silence, reflection, prayer or meditation,” according to the Morning Journal’s news partner, WKBN First News.

Although everyone clapped and cheered, WKBN reported, more than 100 people in attendance wore black and green T-shirts that read, “Prayer Matters.”

“I was upset and outraged because our community is such a close-knit community, and it’s upsetting to see something that’s so important to so many people get taken down,” said Whitney Parkison, a West Branch graduate, told WKBN.

Superintendent Tim Saxton said this was the best compromise for the moment while the district explores all of options as it relates to the law, board policy and the deeply rooted faith of the West Branch community.

Other published reports quoted FFRL’s legal director as saying a moment of silence has been found unconstitutional and the organization has rarely been forced to file a lawsuit because schools usually discontinue the practice in all forms.