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Basketball official and objective fan here, witnessing a substate final; winner goes to state.
Team A has come back from a 12 point or so 4th quarter deficit to tie the game with less than 8 seconds in regulation. Teams B inbounds the ball about 15-20 feet from the endline towards the side opposite the bench, and calls timeout. Less than 5 seconds on the clock. Officials get together and chat, Team B inquires about location of throw-in since official with ball isn't standing at the spot. He ends up giving Team B the ball at the midcourt line, probably 20-25 feet closer than where they should have received it. Fans for Team A are going nuts! Team B passes in, dribbles, forces up shot, foul is called(which there was a foul), tie game, kid on line for two shots with no time left on clock, makes first one, game over.
The game, of course, wasn't decided by the officials alone. There were many missed shots, turnovers, etc. But it doesn't help the situation at all when a basic thing such as the throw in spot is missed like that at a particularly crucial part of the game.
We've all seen stuff like this, but it's sad when it happens and people have to go home with such a sour taste in their mouths, and they read articles about how quality officiating has gone downhill and they see exampleson a regular basis.
Enough spouting.
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