Western-Star.com

By Bobby

March 26, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS) rules prohibit instant replay, and also prohibit the use of zeroes on the clock or the red light on the backboard to determine such calls. Only the horn officially determines the end of the period — not 00.0 or the red light.

Playing at collegiate or professional venues makes it harder to determine because of the horn, the game shot clock unit (which has a duplicate game time posted), and the red light.

By Lakota mom

March 13, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this

I very upset with the way the game ended. We can accept a lost but we didn’t lose we tied. How can there be a winner when you tie with someone. When you are playing basketball, when the clock winds down you are clearly out of time. If you are not going to use the clock then way do we have them in basketball. There are three refers why, if they are not going to be used. Why have all three if you only need one? There are three to help each other with the calls that clearly didn’t happen…Why????

By amber m.

March 13, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

When I heard what happened, I was truly shocked. There is clear evidence of the ending of that game by both media and fans. I believe they should of went to overtime. Either give our girls a rematch or hand over the championship to us.

By tom

March 13, 2008 7:58 AM | Link to this

For those of you that said it was the correct call, please tell me why the OHSAA commissioner called the Lakota coach and apologized.

By Lynn

March 13, 2008 12:42 AM | Link to this

If they gave state titles for sportsmanship, the Lakota West girls basketball team and Coach Fishman would be the unquestioned winners. I was fortunate to be at the State Championship game and it was the best basketball game I have ever seen. I am a big fan of high school sports, but I am an even bigger fan of good sportsmanship. Watching Amber Gray waiting at half court to be the first to congratulate MND will be something I will never forget. The girls are state champions in my book!

By Shawn

March 12, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this

Given the parameters that the referee had to make the call, it’s not a bad call. However, the replay CLEARLY shows the ball is still in the young lady’s hand when the red light (which indicates the end of the game…remember from physics that light travels faster than sound) comes on. I guarantee you that if the officials could have used replay, the basket would have been overturned. The same thing happened in South Carolina, but in that case, the basket (a 70-ft three-pointer) didn’t count.

By BnOPanther

March 12, 2008 12:07 PM | Link to this

What a great play by MND just to get a chance to win. It appears it was close enough to count, depending on the refs angle. But didn’t the players, fans and everyone in attendance deserve to see OT? Great season for both teams. That video definatly gets me fired up for the NCAA tourney.

By Todd

March 12, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this

I do not know anything about either team, so I am not biased. For those of you that said the correct call was made, you must have watched something other than what is posted here. The call was wrong. You can pause the video at the instant the backboard lights up, verify the clock is on zero, restart th video and still watch it come out of her hand. Should have gone to OT

By ken

March 12, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

I think all referees need to be graded on the performance in each game they do. They are some refs who abuse thier power and it shows. some refs are just not fair

By Jim T

March 12, 2008 7:36 AM | Link to this

The only difference between this shot was that it ended the game. I don’t hear anyone crying about all the cheap fouls called against MND when defending Gray. Fact is, MND’s greatest nemesis throughout the year are the officials who cover them with a microscope and tend to ignore their opponents.

It truly is a tough loss for Lakota West but the fact is they had the ball with 10 seconds left and a chance to win the game and couldn’t get it done.

By Jim

March 12, 2008 7:16 AM | Link to this

It was the WRONG call - anyone that says different is lying.

On the other hand, it WAS NOT a bad call. Tough play. In live action I’d guess a large % of refs would miss it. It’s a shame the game had to end that way but, as many here have written, it wasn’t the only call or play that impacted the final score.

By LH

March 12, 2008 2:46 AM | Link to this

I heard about the controversy on the news tonight and I thought I would watch the video myself online. After replaying it about 5 times and not knowing anything about either team or seeing any of the officiating, good or bad, I agree with the call. To me it looked as if she got the shot off before the buzzer went off. Both teams should be so proud of themselves by just being there and getting to play for either 1st or 2nd place in the state!!!

By tomahawk

March 11, 2008 10:56 PM | Link to this

This week of watching basketball games has convince me that replay is needed at least in the final 2 minutes of games. I watched UCLA get two victories in which they deserved neither thus denying other teams of a #1 seed in the upcoming tournament and now I see a group of young ladies being ripped off by such a obvious bad non call. Replays seems to work in football and now it’s past time to instill it into the game basketball.

By CW

March 11, 2008 9:56 PM | Link to this

The call was very close. Rules don’t allow for replay in high school and maybe that should be fixed. Video on the Enquirer’s site shows just how close the call was, and you can also here the horn, which is really what the officials are supposed to call the play by.

Fact is that MND out played, out coached, and out willed West, with the exception of Amber and Alexis. For Amber not to touch the ball in the last minute is absurd, and I feel so bad for her and her family because she is a tremendous player and deserved the touches. Fishman pulled a huge boner by not running his championship path through her. Ever heard of Jimmy Chitwood ??

By contrast for example, when Dante had to have two points to tie with :29 left, he had Gabby, the teams calmest player, throw the inbounds pass to Tia, the teams surest hands. And even though Tia was being guarded by Amber, Gabby’s patience to let Tia establish balance over Amber was just beautiful. My question here was why didn’t Fishman have Alexis guarding the inbounds pass. Ever heard of UK v Duke 1992, Grant Hill and Christian Donald Laettner? Alexis was guarding Evy, the least likely player to get the ball. Small things in the heat of battle win wars. Dante is forever out of the shadow of Dr. Rogers. This is his program now !!

MND got tremendous team play from Tia, Gabby, Kendall, and especially Ashley. Ashley just hounded the ball on defense all night, and for me is the MVP of the game, although Tia’s will to put the offense on her shoulders during money time was a sight to behold. Ashley just seems to get mentally and physically stronger as the game wears on, and this really wears down her opponent. She truly refuses to loose. Channing didn’t have her best game, but she stayed positive, made some plays, and proved just how much of a team leader she is. Witness her talking to Kathryn after fouling out. Thats team play and its pure as pure can be. Channing, along with Kendall, is a three time starter on state championship teams. Enough said. Finally, mark these words, those last two points are not going to be the most important points that Kathryn ever scores.

The point is that despite a potentially poor call, and there were many during the course of this game as there are during every close high school game, (after all these refs are essentially volunteers who hold full time employment in some other field), the true championship TEAM came away victorious. I was there and I came home and watched the game on replay last night. I was also in Columbus for the 06 and 07 state tournament and this was by far MND’s toughest challenge.

Enough can’t be said about Amber Gray though. I really felt for her during the post game ceremony. She showed dignity and class, but I knew she was really hurting inside. She’s so close to some of the MND seniors, and we all know that makes the pain and desire even greater. But when she looks back on her career she’ll see a tremendous body of work. She should be inducted into the Butler County Hall of Fame as soon as possible because she is one of the greatest in our county’s high school history. I look forward to watching her at UT.

By LakotaMom

March 11, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this

Congratulations to WEST on an amazing season. I got to see them play and was soo impressed with the girls. Regardless of the outcome, be proud of your accomplishments!

By wow

March 11, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this

wow bob you are crazy the ball is totally in her hands when the buzzer went off!!!!

the refs sucked

By Stephanie Alig

March 11, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this

I Watch the game on t.v. last night and it was a good game but, I had a very good picture of the last second shot and the game should have went into overtime. I thought there are three referee’s on the court at one time why did only one person make the call? They should have talked about it before they said the game was over. I’m pretty sure that it would have been an interesting overtime play. I’m also thinking that for a Monday night game they were ready to go home. I didn’t care who won.

By Sarah

March 11, 2008 6:39 PM | Link to this

That was an amazing game. The two teams were well matched. It was back and forth all night long. The refs called both sides on fouls fair throughout the entire night. However, it is the buzzer that counts and not the light. And I’d like to commend coach Andy Fisherman for not challenging the call when he could have. It’s about Respecting the Game, and respecting the decisions of the referees. Thank you, Andy Fisherman, for your rare good sportsmanship.

By Marie

March 11, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this

i think the reason everyone says that she definetaly didn’t have the ball out of her hand is because the light on the backboard went off BEFORE the clock ran out! I think it is impossible to tell on this clip because it is so blurry, i tried to pause it when the ball left her hand, and i couldn’t see any details…i think we just have to accept that MND won, fair and square. (another thing is that MND’s 2 best players were ‘fouled out’ and upon replay, their 5th fouls were not fouls at all.)

By bret

March 11, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

Bob your right in the fact that he made his call and stuck to it but there is no way that she got the ball off before the buzzer its a shame that high schools kids have to end a season like this, i hope this brings some people to inquire about using instant replay in tournament play

By Bob

March 11, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

The referee made the correct call!!!

By Kathy

March 11, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

The way the game ended was sooo wrong. Why have a championship if it is not fair. Could the refs have asked for help on the call or at least check with each other before deciding the shot was good ??? Even the announcers said the ball never left her hand befoe the lights came on. I am really proud of the girls though-they had a great season!

By Derek Wasson

March 11, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this

Yeah that’s pretty messed up that ball was totally still in her hand when the buzzer went off. You can tell by just looking at her hand as the red lights on the backboard come on considering they are so close to each other. Robbed Robbed Robbed Robbed

By DANNY

March 11, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

Yes the referees made the wrong call, but in their defense, how many times did we need to replay the shot until we were definite that that ball was still in her hand when the buzzer went off. This is a breakdown with the OHSAA and their regulations to not use the t.v. video replay. I hope next year there will be some changes as to the tools, if accessible, being used to get the call right!! There have been more games this year than ever that have been considered controversial due to this.