[ace]

And it was a freshman game!! New official here in the chapter, not so new to basketball. Rather young so I'm obligated to fall under certain retrictions. Highest I can work is a freshman game which is OK by me for now. Thats about where I belong as an official. Tonight I had the BIGGEST! Private school rivalry in the Houston area. My assignor called me this morning and asked if I could work the freshman game which preceeded the varsity game. I said sure no problem. He didnt mention anything about rivarly. I showed up and theres alreday 4 sheriffs standing around. Stands are starting to fill up slowly. I meet the head coach from the home team he escorts me to the locker room... I take a quick shower (back was hurting needed some hot water on it) get dressed and wait for my partner.... and wait for my partner.... and wait for my partner 10 min to tip-off im still waiting for my partner. Coach tells me he just got here and the visitors bus is trying to get in the parking lot. We pre-game while he changes we walk out on the floor watch warm-up- clock hits 15 min i toot the whistle call no dunks and we start talkin more pregame stuff get the captaints together - buzzer goes players coem out i turn around to walk out from the table and the place is already 75% full. One of the varsity officials and says - "you gettin the taste of the big show tonight!" so I throw the tip
and we go. Good game all night _ I had the biggest call of the first half .... right after i blew a back-court call. Coach kept callin me johnny. he finally realized i wasnt acknowlegeing his time out because of that. I finally told him I will only acknowlge ref, blue, or John. He got the picture. 2nd half was close. Vistors came back within 2 points and then the technical. Kids been on the bench the ENTIRE night! Comes into the game... His numbers not in the book! I'm thinking OH ****! Home coach is saying thats a tech thats a tech.. I didnt wanna give it but i Had to. The visotrs book didnt even have his number. So the leads now 4. 2 min to go and the play get sloppy. I get a time out from home so i tell my parnter to make sure all the fouls are good ones let the ticky tack go. ANd in the last 2 min we called 4 fouls on both teams and they were all good ones! I get one more time out with 30 sec to go... I grab the security gaurd and say we're gunna need a way to the locker room after the game- he goes to the table for the last 30 sec. Buzzer goes - stands go crazy we grab the jackets security parts the red sea of fans and to the locker room we go. Had my first post game we covered some questionable calls from the night then got us a hot dog and coke and watched the big show. Had an all collegit offical crew. Great guys - Went in twith him at half time and i just got in! Great night... thanks for lettin me share.