[Richard Ogg]

My previous joke was intended to speak a bit on how the game is called. Now let me be very specific.

We often talk about refereeing the level of play. That is, if the players can play through a little, let them play through it. If they can't ("disadvantage"), then make the call. So, JH will find some fouls called for acts that would be passed on in a varsity game. Similarly, in a good HS game I will not tollerate traveling (e.g., the little shuffle of feet). At the JH level I mostly ignore that (or the minor infractions of it) or the game will never end.

Now to your mis-match. Consider the skill level, and call it accordingly. Remember that you cannot deviate too much between the two teams. If the state champs can play through a little contact, then pass on those ticky-tacky fouls. If the small Christian school cannot, then they should be called. This doesn't mean that you will not call fouls on the lower-sklled team, but you might be tighter one way than the other. Never pass on anything blatant or rough.

As for the travels, the low-skilled team probably needs some latitude or they will become frustrated with never getting down the court. The high-skilled team has earned your closer attention to those shuffles to help them tune their game for the bigger matches to come.

As for the press, if the team that is way ahead gets even close to an opponent in the backcourt, I'm sure there must have been a foul there. Call every one, and soon the small school will at least be able to cross the division line.

Good luck, and tell us how it went. (I had a girls JV game last night that was 35-5 at the half, 53-20 at the end. They aren't much fun.)