You be the referee and make the call in the controversial ending to the Milton-Norcross playoff game
We have video of the the final seconds to the controversial ending to the Milton-Norcross game from Saturday’s Class AAAAA quarterfinals.
Let’s set up the scene: Norcross was winning by a point with 10.2 seconds left in regulation. Milton drove down the court and missed two shots, and Norcross celebrates as if it has won. However, a referee determined that Milton’s Julian Royal was fouled while attempting to rebound somewhere around the time of the final buzzer.
You know the rest of the story: Royal makes both foul shots to give Milton the 52-51 win and, more importantly, a berth in the state semifinals.
Loading ...YOU BE THE REF. You’re wearing the striped shirt, and this call has enormous implications, directly affecting the outcome of the state quarterfinals.
How did you see the final seconds? Did the referee make the right call? Or should the referee have the let ‘em play? Please post below and feel free to express your opinion.
Also, to get a full recap of the story, please click on this link for the article.
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122 comments Add your comment
PatheticRef
March 8th, 2010
12:14 pm
I agree there was contact, but to tell the Norcross coach, “the foul occurred before the horn, but we don’t know how much time to put on the clock, so we’re leaving it at 0.0″ is the most pathetic thing Ive ever witnessed. But, the 115 year old GHSA rep just sat there at the scorers table and did nothing. Everything about this basketball tournament is bogus. Playing the games 2 hours away from anyone, dividing the brackets North/South, but football crosses over after first round. The entire GHSA needs to be canned and we need to start over. But, to the ref, you are PATHETIC. Same official called a technical in the Central game.
Norcross25
March 8th, 2010
12:17 pm
Funny, the same #25 lost the first Milton game when he let a pass go right through his arms. This time, he doesn’t box out Julian Royal and then tries to tackle him. Maybe someone should investigate him for throwing the game with the ref?
Michael Carvell
March 8th, 2010
12:25 pm
Yes, that is correct. The same referee called a technical foul in the fourth quarter of the McEachern/Central Gwinnett game later that same day. There was 5:50 left in the game with score tied, and Central’s coach was whistled for a technical. I was on the other side of the floor, so I don’t know whether or not the coach was deserving of the technical. But it was a HUGE call in the final minutes of yet another semifinals game. Fortunately for CG, the technical appeared to rally the team to victory.
Referree Tom
March 8th, 2010
12:35 pm
Whether there is .3 seconds, 3 seconds or 3 minutes on the clock, when you tackle another player, it’s a foul.
PatheticRef
March 8th, 2010
12:41 pm
Then don’t tell the coach, “we don’t know how much time to put on the clock, so we’re keeping it at 0.0.” That referee is a joke and needs to be banned from GHSA games. The technical foul in the Central game was even worse. PATHETIC REFEREE.
Bobby Butler
March 8th, 2010
12:41 pm
The problem I have with this call is the fact that the ref went home and had a good nights sleep. We have got to get officiating like this out of the game. Coaches and players work too hard to lose a game on bogus calls. The Norcross High kids will remember this when they are fifty years old. Its a shame. Let the coaches and players decide the out come of games.
Notcross
March 8th, 2010
12:49 pm
what do you mean “Let the coaches and players decide the out come of games.”
didn’t a Norcross player not even going for the ball decide the game by pulling another player from behind away from the ball
didn’t a Milton player make 2 ft with no time on the clock and noone on the lane making it more difficult??
No Dog in the fight
March 8th, 2010
12:57 pm
I watched the clip but don’t know anything about either team or the game. My problem with the refs is that they turned what looked to be a passionate hard fought game into a free throw shooting contest by calling 3 fouls in the last 30 seconds of the game
Bobby Knight
March 8th, 2010
1:15 pm
There was unquestionably a foul and the correct call was made. This should be used as a case study for officials on exactly how to handle a siuation like this.
Notcross
March 8th, 2010
1:35 pm
This was more of a foul that the over the back call that gave Norcross the lead
Walker, Texas Ranger
March 8th, 2010
1:36 pm
Another case of a (insert Ref or Ump) making it about them instead of the kids. And apparently Ol’ Rabbit Ears was making it about him.
Ken
March 8th, 2010
1:37 pm
There was a foul, but the player had no chance of scoring. The only way he could have scored was to tip the ball in. By rebounding and coming down with the ball, the game was effectively over. Calling a foul gave him the chance to score when he had no chance.
Walker, Texas Ranger
March 8th, 2010
1:38 pm
Someone using the name “Norcross” so no one believes he is a Homer, but instead it makes him look even more like a Homer.
HS Fan
March 8th, 2010
1:40 pm
There was some contact, but there always is on a rebound and put-back. Nothing flagrant or too rough. I played & refereed for years, and there’s no way a referee should make that call. They’ve gotta let them play in that situation. Norcross was robbed. GHSA should be ashamed. Looks like somebody’s trying to deliver a little payback for the 3 titles they won with “recruited” players. Everybody hates a winner.
Walker, Texas Ranger
March 8th, 2010
1:41 pm
I didn’t realize tha Ladies Man Boyd was back in coaching. Wow Milton’s really got them a great role model there. Well the guy could always recruit. Apparently he is pretty good in French class too.
Benefit of the Doubt
March 8th, 2010
1:41 pm
1. It’s really close to over when the rebound is made, maybe .4 or .5 of a second left. It’s down to .2 when his feet hit the floor. No way that kid gets to the floor and back up to shoot the bucket. If he’s not tipping it in, I’m not calling anything right there. Questionable decision on the ref’s part.
2. I can’t see the contact before the clock goes to 0.00, but the defender obviously mauls the rebounder either on the way down, or once they reach the floor. You can give the benefit of the doubt to the ref. He’s in a good position to see the play. No question the call is made AFTER the horn, which makes sense. Humans cannot react that quick, but if you make that call, no way in the world you can award FT’s with no time on the clock. Horrible decision on the ref’s part.
This ref shouldn’t be on the floor for a big game like this again for quite some time. Questionable or wrong calls happen in big games, but the tortured logic used to end the game on FT’s shows an unwillingness to stand by your decision. You can’t be so certain of the foul call BEFORE the horn, but so uncertain of when that you punt on the time left on the clock. Dude needs to stick to rec league games.
My qualifications for this post are my two eyes, 10 games of rec league ball, one season of riding the pine in church league, and a complete disdain for Dickie V’s analyses.
Walker, Texas Ranger
March 8th, 2010
1:43 pm
HS Fan, you may be right but Norcross was going against the master in recruiting with Boyd when he was at Berkmar.
Referree Tom
March 8th, 2010
1:45 pm
Ken, Bonus was in effect. The essence of the bonus situation is to convert fouls commited on nonshooting actions into scoring opportunities. Is there anything in the rules that suspends the bonus status in the last x seconds of the game?
By the way, the only mistake made here was that his was an intentional foul. It should have been called that, .3 of a second should have been put on the clock and Milton should have been handed the ball to inbound.
GETOVERIT
March 8th, 2010
1:47 pm
personally I think it was a dumb call but hey. there is NOTHIN ANY of us can do about it. Norcross lost, Milton won.
Walker, Texas Ranger
March 8th, 2010
1:48 pm
Oh a mind reader are we?
Notcross
March 8th, 2010
1:48 pm
No Dog has a good point if you look at how the refs called the last minute of the game they fouled out a starter from each team on very weak calls and again there was a lot more contact on the last call than the over the back call 10 sec earlier that gave Norcross the lead like the mom’s always say “call it both ways” and they did
Cannon
March 8th, 2010
1:57 pm
The call was correct. The guy was tackled before the clock hit 0:00. No controversy here.
Fred
March 8th, 2010
2:08 pm
Probably one of those favored clones from the GHSA who couldn’t ref their way out of a paper bag. Same ref will get one of the finals, just watch!!
Coach
March 8th, 2010
2:14 pm
WOW……what a hard call to make….yes the foul did take place but I think it was the cheapest foul call I have ever scene. This reminds me of the Duke Michigan State game where Jayson Williams hit the desperation 3 with the foul, missed the free throw and Carlos Boozer went up grabbed the rebound was fouled and there was no call. Booze had two chance and if I could remember there were 3 seconds on the clock. To call that foul there is unbelievable. First the foul occurred at what .1 .2 seconds if no zero. We Won’t know the exact timing of the foul….the fact the whistle blew 2 seconds after 0.00 was on the clock raises questions. If I were ref I don’t think I blow my whistle there……it wasn’t like #25 pulled him down to the ground basketball is a touchy physical game but to call a foul after 0.00 on something lady like like that I mean WOW……..If I were the loser I would be LIVID!!!! He comes down with the rebound, he has NO time to put it back up, I could see if it were a mid air put back but cmon a rebound after a blown lay up for a 1 and 1 to advance to semi’s AGAIN WOW
milehigh
March 8th, 2010
2:26 pm
At first I was very skeptical about the final call but after watching the tape almost 30 times I finally know what the official must have seen. Granted the angle of the camera does not allow us to see the foul we can only go by body movements of the players since we were straightlined.
If the kid was fouled the ref got it right. These three officials are supposed to work together. The guy opposite the table in the “c” position is supposed to be watching the clock to signal the end of the game. He should know how much time should be left on the clock. The guy underneath could not possibly know since his responsibility is to watch the matchup underneath the basket.
It looks like .2 seconds should have been put back on the clock. High school rules dictate that a player cannot get off a shot in less than .3 seconds. They can only tip or tap the ball in thus the game was essentially over.
Very gutsy call.
Ryan
March 8th, 2010
2:26 pm
This is absolutely terrible. As an official, you have to know the time and situation of the game. You cannot decide a game on a weak rebounding foul call. Also, the calling official is WAY out of position to make that call. The official should have held his whistle and let the game decide itself.
BigTimeTECHFan
March 8th, 2010
2:29 pm
Very good call, proud of him for making the right call regardless of the time or situation. I’ve never understood NBA & NCAA, ref don’t make calls late in the games because of the situation. rule books don’t say anything about what’s a fould in the last minute of a game verses rest of the game. Never fault a ref for calling it by the book.
Big B CH 99
March 8th, 2010
2:33 pm
I’m too the point that I think most sporting contests shouldn’t be played anymore b/c the refs have pre-determined who is gonna win before the game even starts.
Notcross
March 8th, 2010
2:39 pm
but ryan it was a weak rebounding call 10 seconds earlier that gave Norcross the opportunity to tie up and take the lead with 2 fts why shouldn’t the refs be consistent?
Fast Tuesday links « Rusty Rocket
March 8th, 2010
2:43 pm
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-high-school-sports/2010/03/08/you-be-the-referee-and-make-the-call-in-t…You be the referee. We have video of the the final seconds to the cheap domestic flights from Broome to Melbourne (Tullamarine) controversial ending to the Milton-Norcross game from Saturday’s Class AAAAA. March 8th, 2010 | Category: Uncategorized [...]
Don
March 8th, 2010
2:45 pm
Not a fan of either team but that was a terrible call.
Steve Brown
March 8th, 2010
2:51 pm
I’ve watched it over and over and see no foul. You are all delusional.
DukeFan33
March 8th, 2010
2:51 pm
The call was by the book. The official should be commended. The rules don’t change as the clock runs down.
Mike
March 8th, 2010
2:53 pm
Steve, are you the BF of Sandra Smallwood?
Karl Hess
March 8th, 2010
2:55 pm
This referee has a bright future on the collegiate level in the ACC!
John
March 8th, 2010
2:57 pm
Stinks to lose that way but the kid has to know the situation also. When your in the penalty DO NOT FOUL. They obviously benefited form a weak call on the other end to take the lead, had to know the refs were not keeping the whistles in their pockets.
johnny t-bone
March 8th, 2010
2:59 pm
That was a great call and occurred before time ran out.
Where is the audio? How do we know the whistle didn’t blow with .1 on the clock?
The bottom line is that the foul occurred before the clock ran out. To the line young man to shoot two.
How can you people not see the foul? Dude pulled the guy down from behind him as he was going for the ball. Blatant foul.
ATLdawg
March 8th, 2010
3:01 pm
wait, didn’t milton also have a BS win against Wheeler?
Ralph Has to GO!
March 8th, 2010
3:06 pm
Why would GHSA ever do anything? These are the same people that watched Miller Grove give their Championship trophy to their SUSPENDED coach – knowing he was not even supposed to be in the building last year – after he coached them from behind the scenes illegally all year. GHSA needs to have their house cleaned out……or things like this will keep happening
Notcross
March 8th, 2010
3:12 pm
ATL Dawg nope video proved the refs correct and Milton won fair and square again!
Peachtree Pete
March 8th, 2010
3:18 pm
The call was clearly correct. If you don’t like the outcome, tough. That’s sports. I’m sure Milton fans liked it. (I have no ties with either team).
wowza
March 8th, 2010
3:24 pm
Its really simple: the call is wrong because for the kid to shoot foul shot, you have to put time back on the clock…and it would be 1 second (maybe less)…but a fould can’t be called once the buzzer goes off, which is basically what was ruled here. A shame to gift the game to Milton and steal it from Norcross in this way. Looks to me like the Norcross side should protest–does the GHSA allow for that? Clearly, this was a major referreeing error, and can only be corrected with some kind of replay–maybe a 5 minute OT?
PATHETICREFISANIDIOT
March 8th, 2010
3:31 pm
There was no replay going on in the game….the refs told both Coach Boyd and Coach McMillian the same thing…both coaches understood and moved on. Apparently everyone else hasn’t. Sheesh, get a life people…..
You be the referee and make the call in the controversial ending … | I Love High School Football
March 8th, 2010
3:36 pm
[...] See the rest here: You be the referee and make the call in the controversial ending … [...]
hawks
March 8th, 2010
3:38 pm
I was at the game,im a fan of neither team. I was sitting behind the Milton bench,and clearly saw the play it was a foul. It was a bang bang play as the horn sounded.No he didnt have a chance to get the shot off, but clearly was a foul.The ref made the correct call.I saw the player grab the arm and pull u have to make that call.The ref was watching the play not the clock!
OMG
March 8th, 2010
3:40 pm
OMG. Where was the foul?!?! Help me out, who was the foul on? #25? There was absolutely no foul on that play, not even a ticky tack foul. Looked like #25 might have grazed the guy’s arm, but that was about it. Wow.
Not only was that a non-call, but it wasn’t even a shooting foul! I know they were in the bonus, but you don’t make a call like that when the dude wasn’t even in the act of shooting! Talk about dictating the outcome of the game… wow.
That ref was standing there with 0.0 on the clock, not even starting his motion to blow the whistle! Wow.
This was payback for Norcross recruiting players? LOL! Scott and Parker for Milton live in the coach’s basement. Their parents are about an hour from Milton. What a joke.
No Nonsense
March 8th, 2010
3:40 pm
Foul shots with :00 left on the clock happen all the time, even at the end of quarters. If you haven’t seen this you haven’t been to many games.
DukeFan33
March 8th, 2010
3:45 pm
#25 from Norcross should have been more concerned about blocking out and grabbing the rebound than he was about grabbing Royal. The result was what it should have been. This call was correct.
OMG
March 8th, 2010
3:45 pm
Milton guy got tackled?!?! LOL, I want what you’re smoking.
OMG
March 8th, 2010
3:48 pm
“foul shots with 0.0 on the clock always happen”. Maybe technical fouls, but not personals. Unless of course you are talking about stupid GHSA basketball, then maybe you are correct.
If this was the NBA, they’d add time on the clock (or better yet, not make a silly call, especially on a non-shooting act). That’s a no-call, any veteran ref would know that.
Roy Williams
March 8th, 2010
3:51 pm
A Duke fan talking about fair officiating (DukeFan33)? Let’s flop it out.
Referree Tom
March 8th, 2010
3:52 pm
Actually OMG, the most correct call here would have been the commission of an intentional foul by Blue #25. Royal should have been awarded his 1 + bonus, then 1 second should have been put on the clock and finally Milton shold have been given the ball to inbound.
Nilo Silvan
March 8th, 2010
3:55 pm
I was sitting at the end section where the call was made—he definitely got fouled on his shot attempt before the buzzer sounded. You can’t see him going up with the ball in this view. #25 grabbed Royal’s arm. I agree with the notion that a ref shouldn’t make a call to decide the game, but if there is an obvious foul, they have to call it. They really should have called a foul on the putback attempt before Royal’s. Also, not much earlier, the ref made a terrible call after Norcross’ missed FT and he called a foul on Norcross that set up Milton to take a one point lead.
John
March 8th, 2010
3:59 pm
The player needs to know the situation also. You do not foul when you are in the penalty. The player who missed the shot in the lane was clearly fouled on the way down. SO take your pick
OMG
March 8th, 2010
4:04 pm
Hey, Referree Tom: Now I know you are a fugazi. You are no referee, like your name would suggest. You can’t even spell referee right!
Plus, you said he got tackled?! LOL, I sure missed that in the video. There is no camera angle that could possibly make that look like a tackle.
As for it being an intentional. Wow. There has to be a foul first for there to be an intentional.
Hey Nilo, your selective memory is comical. Royal was going up with ball? LOL. If that even happened (the video is conclusive, your memory is questionable at best), it was after the buzzer. Look at Royal with 0.0 on the clock. Not even close to going up.
OMG
March 8th, 2010
4:08 pm
Holy $hit, look at the freeze frame with 0.0 on the clock: there is a Norcross player between the “supposed” foul and the ref! Unless the ref has x-ray vision, how did he even see the “foul” (if there really was one)?
What a joke. And a travesty. But who cares I guess. The Russians deserved that Gold medal against the USA in 1972, huh. LOL.
OMG
March 8th, 2010
4:13 pm
No, I don’t and didn’t attend Norcross. Don’t even live in Norcross. Don’t really care who won. But I will say that a travesty like this bothers me.
Just like when the USSR got the gold medal against the USA in 1972. A travesty just like this one.
I guess I’ll take the USSR’s advice to America in 1972: I’ll stop whining about it.
WW
March 8th, 2010
4:18 pm
You cannot pull the player with the ball backwards away from the net. It looks like there was less than a second on the clock. The clock should have been reset to 0.4 seconds.
m
March 8th, 2010
4:22 pm
Reading these comments makes me worry what kind of education these kids are getting….the ignorance is amazing
Mike
March 8th, 2010
4:22 pm
Good one OMG- 1972 Olympics. If any of you are`old enough to remember that you understand the frustration. we didn’t even accept the silver medal
damail
March 8th, 2010
4:22 pm
Pretty clear…even IF there was a foul…it was after time had expired.
bystander
March 8th, 2010
4:24 pm
I heard from legitimate sources that the coaches are having a meeting about this game because the call is causing such an outrage. This is for sound purpose too, a game should never be conpletly decided by a refs call.
onlooker
March 8th, 2010
4:29 pm
agree 100% with referee Tom, intentional foul, should have been called and dealt with according to the rules……kudos to the kid who made both free throws for the win….that’s clutch.
AllBlue
March 8th, 2010
4:29 pm
There is a meeting or a conference call, but I heard it was for GHSA officials. Maybe there is a second one with coaches. I am being told that there is a lot of pressure to have a significant remedy adopted to correct the situation.
Notcross
March 8th, 2010
4:34 pm
Mikie quick question was there more contact on the over the back with 10.2 sec left the foul that gave you the lead
or the last play where the Norcross players isn’t even going for the ball???
Mike
March 8th, 2010
4:37 pm
irrelevant just like saying that the guy before the final play was fouled. the issue is this play.
Mike
March 8th, 2010
4:39 pm
by the way Shannon scott’s shot was pathetic. In reality he choked. He’s not like his dad who was pretty unbelievable
Walker, Texas Ranger
March 8th, 2010
4:44 pm
Referre Tom apparently is a mind reader and has equipment to upgrade this video where you can actually make crap out
Walker, Texas Ranger
March 8th, 2010
4:45 pm
I will agree that the kid that made the free throws was CLUTCH
The GHSA takes questions about the controversial ending to state playoff game (UPDATED) | Prep Zone: AJC High School Sports
March 8th, 2010
4:48 pm
[...] Related: SEE THE VIDEO. YOU BE THE REF and make the call in the controversial ending to the Milton-Norcross playoff game. Cl… [...]
Chad
March 8th, 2010
4:54 pm
Anyone who says this is a “great call” is either a delusional homer or a fool. If the exact same situation happened in a high profile NCAA game, the controversy would go on for literally days if not more.
You would be hardpressed to find a single collegiate or NBA official that would watch this video and say the call was the correct decision.
Mike
March 8th, 2010
4:56 pm
I think the people who are`saying great call never`played basketball or sports.
Nilo Silvan
March 8th, 2010
5:09 pm
OMG, I saw him catch the ball and start to go immediately back up with the shot when Bolden grabbed his arm. It is very possible that he would not have even got the shot off if he hadn’t been fouled, though. It’s okay if you don’t agree with me. Not many people on here agreeing on much of anything.
I did not see the first half of the Norcross-Milton game, but the 2nd half was very poorly officiated as was the Central Gwinnett-McEachern game. Actually, I think that is what everyone on here can agree with—it was not very well officiated throughout.
Charles Barkley
March 8th, 2010
5:09 pm
Now that was a great call. Right on top of the action. I respect officials that the guts to make the right calls.
al-ref You-blow
March 8th, 2010
5:15 pm
Why have refs if they can not make a call. I saw two fouls they let the first one go and called what it was a foul. wow what a bunch of loosers that blame the strips when they lose. I like how bad defense is always the strips fault. wow let me go do my games and stick it to the wacko’s that yell at the refs…lol
Andre
March 8th, 2010
5:19 pm
Here’s what I saw:
I saw a foul on the second rebound attempt at 0.03 seconds left on the game clock. I also the saw the referee make the call as time expired. There was a foul, and the ref made the right call in this instance.
The only question is whether 0.03 seconds should have been added back to the clock.
middler and so tired of all the rhetoric :
March 8th, 2010
5:22 pm
Don’t expect fairness or justice from GHSA. A previous athletic director from Norcross High has also served on GHSA director. Our daughter, the only cheerleader on a national champion squad, had made the school competition squad. A new coach with one year’s experience on the Freshman cheer squad replaced the experience coach after tryouts. She liked one of the girls who hadn’t made the squad as she didn’t have one of the required skills and asked this girl to be on the competition squad. The girl said she wouldn’t be on unless she got a starting spot so the coach gave her my daughter’s spot as they were both small and fliers. My daughter had all the required skills. We protested and the athletic director said he would investigate. He told me while on speaker phone with other cheerleader listening that he would investigate. Did not hear back and when asked, he said he had to back the coach and had never said he would investigate. After the protest my daughter was bullied by the rest of the coaches. It was so blatant and uncalled for that the athletic director, overhearing one of the coaches tell her she couldn’t cheer with her squad at the dome when they made the playoffs, for a slipped pony tail ribbon, overruled the coach. All the girls involved graduated 7 years ago but still bring up the incident. My daughter was offered a cheerleading scholarship to George Washington Univ. and turned it down and wouldn’t cheer at Auburn. Long story does have a point: kids know what’s fair and what’s not. They aren’t blinded by BS and excuses like we adults often are. And they never forget the pain. This ref had a responsibility to the players to do the best job possible. He blew it. Norcross feels the pain of losing and Milton’s win is tainted!
Jeff
March 8th, 2010
5:37 pm
I don’t have a dog in this fight and could care less who won this game… however, after seeing this video, it’s appalling that any referee would make this call. First, the time seems to clearly expire before the call… notice the clock at 0.00 and all the officials are standing there. Number 2, I don’t see any obvious violation of the rules that kept Milton from scoring or rebounding or winning. And finally, most importantly, it’s a well-known statement around athletics that you let players play at the end of games to determine the outcome, you DO NOT use your whistle to change the outcome. Sure, there was a little contact, but there ALWAYS is in the playoffs and there ALWAYS is in the final seconds of any basketball game.
Had there been a clear rules violation, I agree the call would need to be made… but a very iffy judgement call, especially in high school, well you just don’t do that… you give the team the benefit of the doubt and let the kids on the floor determine the outcome.
I feel bad for the Norcross kids, this is a tough way to end the season. But I hope their coaches and parents remind them that this is a life lesson… sometimes stuff doesn’t go your way.
And I DO agree with the above posts… the GHSA, its policies and officiating are HORRIBLY inconsistent and inadequate and massive changes should be made for the good of the schools, the kids, and the games.
Jose Benzaca
March 8th, 2010
5:44 pm
I don’t know what video you people are watching but the clock runs out before the call. Red light, signifying the buzzer is clearly red before the call is made. Luck to Milton.
Notcross
March 8th, 2010
5:47 pm
so Mikie your saying officials should not be consistent?? good one
Notcross
March 8th, 2010
5:49 pm
Jose the lights and horn are just to tell fools in the stands its time to go to your car the foul clearly is during play
Mike
March 8th, 2010
5:50 pm
has nothing to do with consistency. you point is irrelevant. you can look back at any call and question it
Idiotrefs
March 8th, 2010
6:20 pm
Even worse was the fact the refs would not let Norcross coach call a timeout because time was expired. They were clueless…
Idiotrefs
March 8th, 2010
6:21 pm
Norcross coach wanted a timeout before the free throws were shot and refs would not let him. Learn the rules!!!
Jimmy Barron
March 8th, 2010
6:37 pm
Timeout from what, there was no time on the clock–LOL
Idiotrefs
March 8th, 2010
6:40 pm
Norcross should haev been allowed their timeouts. They kicked THAT rule!
Norcross Parent
March 8th, 2010
6:44 pm
Middler: I guess nothing has changed in 7 years with Norcross Cheerleading, as the story you told happened again this year exactly as you described. The Athletic Director there always backs his coaches, even when they violate school policy and protocol. The only Cheer coach with even a modicum of maturity was pushed out last year, and don’t even get me started on what a poor role model and yahoo the baseball coach is…
Notcross
March 8th, 2010
7:24 pm
so here’s the question if Mikie writes on the vent and no one reads it is he still an idiot?
correct answer is …. of course
bigdog
March 8th, 2010
7:31 pm
You know, actually, after watching this (above) video, I think the ref made the Correct call. All partisanship aside, If you look at the tape,at .1 second, number 23 looked to be pulling down the arm of Julian Royal. You cant do that. JR may or may not have been able to get a shot up, or a tap, but he must have the opportunity — that’s basketball. The foul itself occured in regulation — check the tape. The reaction of the ref may have been a second slow, but that’s not unusual for human timing. Its only of interest here because that split second delay puts him after the end of the game, but the foul/grab occured DURING REGULATION and therefore in my opinion it was an extremely gutsy but correct call. That ref should be commended for having the balls to make the call. No matter what is said, look at the tape, Royal’s arm is grabbed and it happens before the clock says 00.0. That’s all you need to know. Now, that said, 9 out of 10 times that call is not made at that time. But, ask yourself this, if that same play happened with say, 2 minutes to go in the 1st quarter, would it be called? I think so. There is no difference when the foul occurs, as long as it occurs within the time of the contest is should always be called. I commend that ref, I really do . And I think anyone who takes an objective look at this will agree.
Mike
March 8th, 2010
7:33 pm
notcross, i challenge you to a game of bball. let’s see how good you are?
bigdog
March 8th, 2010
7:33 pm
Jose, its not that point at which the call is made, its when the foul occured. Watch the tape again.
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March 8th, 2010
8:17 pm
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Idiotrefs
March 8th, 2010
8:17 pm
How about the refs not letting the Norcross call a timeout. He could have iced the shooter and it was not allowed. By rule he should have been allowed to call a timeout!
Michael Carvell
March 8th, 2010
8:30 pm
It was a bad call, one of the worst I’ve seen in my 25 years of covering (any) sports. My opinion has nothing to do with Milton or Norcross. I was very disappointed to see the finish of an epic game taken out of the hands of the kids.
Michael Carvell
March 8th, 2010
8:32 pm
If you want to discuss more, go here … http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-high-school-sports/2010/03/08/the-ghsa-takes-questions-about-the-controversial-ending-to-state-playoff-game-updated/
THSALUM00
March 8th, 2010
8:43 pm
I don’t know how the officiating was during the entire game (loose or tight). I had to look at that video several times before posting. That call looked like it was after the clock hit zero. IMO, I don’t think that call should have been made at all. Even if the kid was in the act of shooting, it still would have been after the clock hit zero. That game should have went to OT. I think that call did an injustice to an exciting contest.
THSALUM00
March 8th, 2010
8:45 pm
Was the play reviewed? If not, GHSA definitely need to look at the idea of instant replay reviews.
NOTCROSS very sad
March 8th, 2010
8:59 pm
Notcross is a very sad person. Either A) an opposing coach that Norcross beat repeatedly, B) the referee in question, or C) David Boyd himself (as he has repeatedly found his way onto messageboards)
BBall Fan
March 8th, 2010
9:13 pm
The call was a correct one and since it happened before the clock expired, then foul shots should be awarded. I love the notion that it was “only a little foul”… a foul is a foul!
There is a lot of talk about everything happening with 0.0 time left and there should have been .2 or .3 sec put back on the clock. If I’m not mistaken, in GHSA rules, there must be more than 1 full sec left in order for the game to continue (I guess since the clock operators are not professional, they don’t feel anything should happen with less than a sec on a dead ball). Since the call was made with less than a sec, the clock doesn’t get reset and the game is deemed over.
Reality
March 8th, 2010
9:42 pm
Are you people blind!?! The call was made AFTER THE CLOCK REACHES 0.0!
Michael Carvell
March 8th, 2010
9:44 pm
We talk about this more in the other blog, but it was the clock operator (sitting 50 feet away in a loud, loud environment) who ultimately decided that he heard the whistle before the horn. Go here … http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-high-school-sports/2010/03/08/the-ghsa-takes-questions-about-the-controversial-ending-to-state-playoff-game-updated/
bigdog
March 8th, 2010
9:50 pm
I agree in spirit, but mabe Norcross should have been given .3 seconds on the clock, and maybe a timeout for Norcross should have been awarded, but a foul is a foul (unless its a fowl)….’nuff said. Maybe the Norcross kid should have tried to CONTEST the shot instead of just grabbing the player. I think its a bad habbit that our young players have gotten into: just grabbing instead of tring to defend. A grab is a foul, no matter what time is on the clock.
Michael Carvell
March 8th, 2010
9:54 pm
Bigdog: Thanks for your post. What shot was being contested? They were battling for a rebound. Royal was NOT shooting.
DHD
March 8th, 2010
11:16 pm
All complainers: Sign up to ref next season.
Blinky
March 8th, 2010
11:25 pm
this thread is turning into a joke. By tomorrow morning Im sure someone will accuse the reffs of being Taliban conspiritors. The reffs may have been inconsistant but, I have yet to see a perfect officiating crew all year. They did the best job that they could. it is unfortunate that Norcross had to lose that way but life is not fair. If Norcross wanted to improve their chances of winning, they should have made a few more jumpshots, had less turnovers, etc. That one play is what everone will remember. It was NOT what determined the outcome of that game.
rationalperson
March 8th, 2010
11:38 pm
Ok well I think all the irrational people here need to realize a few things. First of all, he is human. I am sure he has a family and friends who care about him. He is no different than any of you. Second, he made the correct call. That is absoluley a foul and it would have been totally unfair to Milton to not call it. For those who say his whistle was ‘late’ or ‘after the buzzer’ you need to understand that he is human. There was less than a second when the foul occured and he had called the foul roughly a second after the buzzer. So in other words, he reacted in less than 2 seconds, taking into account the atmosphere, pressure, noise, and aggressive play, that’s a pretty good job considering he is a HUMAN. Now I understand there was time on the clock at the time of the foul, and it didn’t get replaced. In high school basketball there is no replay or any equipment to look that closley at it. Its a tough call because there’s no way to prove the time left. I do feel like there should have been time pu back on the clock but realistically, Norcross wouldnt have scored from their own backcourt with less than a second left anways. So yall cool off a bit…..
notta_whiner_just_a_winner
March 9th, 2010
12:32 am
you know…all that really matters is, our guy was fouled and WE WON THE GAME! WOOO-HOOOO!
Bah-bah-bah-Bah-bah…….I’m lovin’ it!
Yeah, baby! Obvious foul. Obvious time .3 was left on the clock. Good call, and way to STROKE those free throws under pressure!
Boo-yah! WE WIN! YAAAAAAAAAAAY!
Go home you whiny losers!
IREF
March 9th, 2010
6:45 am
I was at the game, and I have been officiating for 18 years, there is know way you make that call from that position, that wasn’t in the refs
area, if anything the slot official should have made that call. Durning the entire game it was plays like that on rebounds and the call was never made, why make that call at that time in the game. I know this referee personnelly and he has made many call like this that has decided a game. Every year the GHSA put the same officials in these games and they continue to make the same error in judgement calls. This same office made a call in a state championship game the was turly not a foul a few years ago, this team was down by 1 point with 11 seconds on the clock, the team that down shoots a 3 pointer, the defence player
jumps in from of the shooter and claps her hand and he call a foul the player when to the line and hit 2 free throws and won the game.
Proud PRHS Lions Mom
March 9th, 2010
9:34 am
This happens in all sports. Does anyone remember the end of the Peachtree Ridge v. Roswell playoff game during the 2007-2008 football season? Talk about a heartbreaker!!! Yes, it hurt to see our kids lose in the playoffs because of a bad call, but they moved on, even making it to the Championship game the very next year. Perhaps the same determination to prove all the doubters wrong will happen in Norcross for the basketball team, propelling them even further next year!
Taylor Wooten
March 9th, 2010
9:57 am
The GHSA is pathetic. Its all about money for them. Dont believe me? Call them up and ask for a copy of their latest financial reports. Why do the high schools continue to let this bogus organization be the “tail that wags the dog”?
Young Referee
March 9th, 2010
10:06 am
The Lead Official was on top of the call. The Center Official helps signify the end of the quarter…not just the clock and the horn. If you look at the reaction time of the Center Official, it appears that the Lead Official made the call before the Center Official signified the end of the quarter. You would like to see them play it out, but if it is a foul the correct call should be made. Should the argument be that the Lead made the call after the clock hit 0.0 or that the Center reacted just as late signifying the close of the quarter??
Foul!
March 9th, 2010
10:49 am
Correct call Ref! People must be voicing their agenda rather than there view! Come on guys…you have gotta see the foul, “over the back,” going on before the light goes off.
boo hoo
March 9th, 2010
11:24 am
Stop your crying. There has got to be at least a dozen bad calls a game and another 20 calls never made.
Norcross is done now move on..
Retired Ref
March 9th, 2010
11:42 am
When you have administrators in the GHSA office such as Yarborough and one of his cronies named Cowart out of Macon what more can you expect. These two people alone have almost ruined high school basketball. Cowart has his favorites to work games as does Yarborough. The best thing that could happen to Georgia basketball would be for Dr. Swearingen to rid the GHSA of Yarborough and Cowart. Officials will tell you the same thing but they are afraid to say anything because of possibly being blackballed by the Godly duo. Since Yarborough came aboard things have steadily gone down in the basketball officiating ranks, and even more so since he tied up with Cowart. A sad state of affairs.
Come on
March 9th, 2010
1:02 pm
To the people complaining about people getting upset about this call, you need to realize how much work the players and coaches put into the season, and unjustly (obviously from this video) ending a teams chances is a big deal, it should be taken seriously.
christophorm
March 9th, 2010
1:22 pm
From south georgia..Hacked on the arm at 0.03…
bee
March 9th, 2010
2:30 pm
No game, especially games that could end seasons, should be decided by an official. If an official has to go to ‘replay’ to justify a call, he shouldn’t be there in the first place.
Dre
March 10th, 2010
12:41 am
Wow….. It is amazing how some people on here can say “I have watched this video 30 times, and I see no foul”. Then you have some to say ” I have watched this video 30 times, and it was the correct call”. Its like out country………..totally divided. People see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe, and are determined not to change their opinion. This is classic. But it was a FOUL lol. Maybe if the guy doesn’t wrap him up on tghe rebound, they dont call the foul. Regardless if he had no chance to go up with the shot, a foul is a foul. I think everyone has to point to the kid on this one, no the ref. If you grab a reciever running a go route with no seconds on the clock and the ball is 10 yards overthrown, I promise you there will be a foul. Maybe holding instead of PI. But there will be a foul. he still had to stand there with the game on line and hit his free throws..HUGE!!!!!!!
HSMan
March 10th, 2010
7:50 am
Here’s the important ruling question we need answered: Is the foul official when it is committed, or when the ref makes the call? If the clock is supposed to stop when the foul is committed, then there was .3 left and all this gibber-jabber about not putting time back on the clock is valid. However, if the timer is supposed to stop the clock when the foul is called, then tthe game was over before there was any foul, this means Norcross won. Can you answer this ruling question Michael, and it will resolve this once and for all?
2010 Georgia High School Basketball Tournament: Semifinals resume tonight; check semis & finals schedules for upcoming games | Prep Zone: AJC High School Sports
March 10th, 2010
10:00 am
[...] Preview: Five things to know about the high school basketball semifinals [...]
COach Boyd
March 10th, 2010
1:51 pm
big dog– what game were you watching #23(Norcross) fouled out of the game
It’s report card time for the high school referees during state championship week (UPDATED) | Prep Zone: AJC High School Sports
March 15th, 2010
5:50 pm
[...] you recall, Milton pulled off a miracle in its controversial win over Norcross in the semifinals. Norcross celebrated an apparent win, but one referee ruled that Milton’s Julian Royal had been [...]