"Marshmallow," "Buckwheat" and "Shrimp boat" became "I'm sorry" Tuesday and turned a racial flare-up into a teaching moment, two high school principals said.

The questionable words were first used during a high school basketball game last Wednesday between Mullen, a private Catholic school in south Denver, and Overland, a public school in Aurora.

The game was being played at Mullen when Mullen students chanted the words at various black players as they stood at the free-throw line, according to various accounts. It remains unclear whether the words were racially motivated, but students and administrators met to discuss the incident Tuesday.

"Schools are learning institutions," said Overland Principal Jana Frieler, "whether that happens in a classroom or gymnasium."

Tuesday's learning took place in Mullen's chapel.

Thirty-seven Mullen boys and girls uttered the controversial words, or were around those who said the words, said Mullen Principal Greg Gotchey. Those students, and one black Mullen basketball player, attended the 2 p.m. meeting that lasted about 40 minutes. Also present, besides Gotchey and Frieler, were the athletics directors of both schools, the Overland basketball coach, Mullen football coach Dave Logan and an Overland counselor who is a Mullen alumni.

Officials closed the meeting to the media, citing privacy issues. But the two principals said at a news conference afterward they were satisfied with the dialogue.

"We're going to take this opportunity to teach our kids," and make them better people, Gotchey said.

"Marshmallow" was directed at an Overland student whose last name sounds like marshmallow, Gotchey was told. "Buckwheat" was chanted at someone with an Afro.

"Their intention was to poke fun at somebody's hair and to get them off of their game," Gotchey said. "It didn't work."

Indeed, Mullen lost the game. But Gotchey said he learned Tuesday that "marshmallow" could also be seen as a racial epithet indicating someone is black on the outside and white on the inside, especially in the context of a marshmallow inside a chocolate and graham cracker sandwich, or s'more.

Gotchey did not hear the term "shrimp boat" and did not know what racial overtone it might have. But he said what matters is that the words were perceived as racist.

The Overland basketball team has nine black and two white players, Frieler said. Some did not hear the chants, while others did and were angered, she added. Frieler also heard from angry parents and community members.

As to whether racism was behind the remarks, Frieler did not think Mullen students "intended it to go as far as they could." But she added, "I don't know that it was meant in jest."

Tuesday's meeting followed a Friday school assembly at Mullen, Gotchey said. He did not want to discuss any disciplinary measures, but said all of his 977 students have been warned.

Mullen is about 78 percent white; Overland is about one-third white and a little more than one-third black.

Still to come, Gotchey said, is a letter from the Mullen students to the Overland basketball team. A student to student meeting has also been discussed.