[JRutledge]

I called the timeout based on what I heard, not what I thought I heard. And it was clear I heard timeout and the coach never denied that he requested one. If he had said he called a play, then maybe I would have not stuck with the timeout. But the coach wanted me to hear him say more words after he said the words "timeout." In all my years of officiating which I have been blessed to have done varsity most of those years, I have never heard a coach make such a request and expect a result as I had experienced here. Now that being said if this was a FT, then it would have been easier to hear him. But remember, he said this with the ball at half court. I did not give him a timeout with the first couple of times because I was not sure he was making a request (my back was turned). When I heard him for sure, I granted the timeout. Also keep in mind this was a loud gym, with a team that had won a State title the year before being challenged by a team by a team that was not supposed to hang with them (undefeated too) and there had been several requests for timeouts in this game under duress. It made perfect sense that there would be a timeout request. It did not make sense to me that he wanted it based on a shot that had not been taken yet or even attempted. I do not agree that this has much to do with common sense, because common sense has never told me to give a timeout during live and active action other than a FT. And as I have said before, even when they ask for a timeout during a FT, I still ask them to repeat the request because I have always been concerned they might change their mind. And I want to take the burden off of me to have to think through why they want a timeout. That has worked for me for years. Never had a problem until now.

Peace