[MN BB Ref]

Friday night I had my final Varsity contest of the season (still have 3 B/JV boys games next week). It was a matchup of two 20-4 teams with the conference championship at stake...winner take all. The visiting team had won on their home court earlier in the season by 19 points and the home team was more than ready to return the favor.

Knowing prior to the start of the season that this game would probably be what it ended up being, I asked a very good official in my association (she's been selected to work the quarterfinals and semifinals of this year's state tourney) if she would like to work this contest with me. She said yes and I was anticipating this game all season long.

Being that this was a small town school, we also had to work the JV game. This was nice as we had never worked together before and it gave us an opportunity to fine-tune our communication on the court even though I thought we did a nice pre-game together.

Finally we are out on the court for the varsity pre-game warmups and the place is pure bedlam. The band is playing so loud that I can't hear a word my partner is saying during the captain's meeting. There isn't a seat left in the entire gym...only standing room. Both teams are warming up with a purpose that I hadn't seen all season long.

Finally at the 2 minute mark prior to the game we are met by the local NBA team's mascot at mid-court. He wants us to huddle with him while he's explaining what he would like to do for entertainment tonite. Funny, I've seen this mascot performing for the past 17 years and this is the first time I've ever heard him talk. Anyway, he signals me to get on the court and I see no harm in it and he proceeds to act as if he's stretching out my hamstrings. This got a nice reaction from the crowd and we got quite a few smiles as we approached the table for team introduction and the national anthem.

Pregame player introductions produced more bedlam from the crowd as each team was well represented in the stands. On top of that, not a negative word was heard from either crowd when the other team's players were introduced.

Finally the game starts and the intensity sky rocketed. The visitors were on defense after losing the tip and they set up in a zone in order to deny the home team's best player a chance to get the ball inside (she's 6-3 and when I was working a game there last year she was being scouted by Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Purdue). The home team doesn't blink and they calmly work the ball around the perimeter for nearly 2 minutes before the big girl takes an open three and drains it. THe crowd erupts.

The rest of the game was pure bedlam everytime someone scored. The coaches coached, the players played, and the fans cheered. Hardly a negative word was heard the entire time. The mascot worked his magic during timeouts and at half-time and the band played on.

For our part, the game was well-officiated. My partner and I made a few early calls that set the tempo for the type of game we were calling and the players played within those constraints. No reaching and grabbing, good hard defense, no hand-checking, or wrestling for position.

Even though the final score ended up with the home team avenging their early season loss by a 22 point margin, it never seemed as if this was a blowout. The players played with the same intensity from the opening tip to the final horn.

After the game my partner and I both said this was the funnest game we can ever recall working. That's saying something for her as she is a regular at the state tournament and I have yet to work one. Regardless, the AD found me after the game and inquired as to my availability next season. My answer was a resounding yes.

Even today, two days later, I still have a smile on my face when I think of this game. It will last me throughout the offseason and I can't wait for the 2006-2007 season even though I still have a week left in this season.

I just wanted to share this overly long missive with all of you because I knew you could appreciate this situation in a way that non-officials never could.

I hope your seasons all end on a high note like this.

Dave