9th grade boys. 2 point game with 2.5 min to go and A1 and B1 both have blood on their uniforms. Partner (Referee) whistles and orders both to bench. Turns out both are bleeding from scratches and no, I don't know how we missed that mugging. Coach A calls a full to buy A1 back in, last time out. Ref is handling the other substitutions during the time out. Resumption of play and A1 and B1 return to floor during the same time out, cleaned and patched and ready to play. Game continues and it is a 1 point game with less than 30 seconds to play and Coach B calls for his last time out. Coach A stays in the box but the top of his head is coming off asking why B has a time out remaining when he had a bleeder also. Partner and I make eye contact and telepath a quick oh, crap. Ref concurs with coach A, charges an ex post facto time out to B and orders resumption of play. Coach B is convinced he has been the victim of a drive-by, steps way out of the box, verbalizes way too much and Bang, two shots for A, three point lead, ball OoB and game over. Ref explained to me later that it made sense to him for other player to come back on a time out provided A1 was patched in time and just spaced on the rule. Obviously I let him down on knowledge of the rule and then not stepping in front of Coach B quick enough. Man did we feel bad, stupid and weak.
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Who needs the instruction book, let's just put it together.
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