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In our HS 4A varsity games, both boys and girls, we use three officials all season, so even though I don't officiate NCAA games, (but hopefully will someday) I have plenty of 3-man games under my belt.
My belief is that you are right. That is the C's call. The schools are paying for a third official and he should hustle down the court and get his butt in position to make the call.
However, in practice this doesn't always happen. The C could get caught behind some players or watching a trap near half court, or just plain be lazy. In those cases, I have, and will continue to make the call from the lead when necessary as your experienced friend advises.
I know there is this stupid pressure from evaluators and assignors that we have to be accountable to and hence try to please because they control who gets games, but when the day is done, in my heart, I would rather know that we got the play right, even if it costs me an assignment or two in the future.
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