So I finally had a chance to report back on the game.....
After I posted I read several other threads from officials in a similar circumstance so I actively read and took in what other refs had done in the past. I think the best advice I read was from someone who just recommended that you stop listed and take in the experience (sights, sounds, smells, atmosphere etc...)
Game was at a small town school that recently had their HS rebuilt (old one kept getting flooded) in a GREAT new facility. It still had a home depot smell to it indicating it was brand new. Place was about 2/3 full, but in the old school it would have been filled to the rafters.
What I was worried about in the game was the players getting too 'amped' up to start off the game which would lead to fouls early and often. They weren't, but what did take me by surprise was the environment. The fans were INTO it, much more so than a regular season game (as evidenced by much more howling when it came time for the infamous high dribble not being called a carry)...it just had a different feel to it. Every score, steal, rebound the crowd was alive. Especially when the home team went on an 8-0 run at the end of the half to pull within 3 at the break.
The 2nd half??? Well home team only scored 8 points and lost by 30, but still....
The most 'eventful' thing that happened on the court was at the start of the 4Q...I'm at the top of the circle and partner is behind me at the division line. I turn and start to head to one of the teams and I see this quick movement and followed by an ungodly sound of someone hitting the floor...hard. A cheerleader misread the sign from her coach and fell off her pyramid thinking someone would catch her...no one was there. Needless to say that was quite the momentary event while they tended to her....
When I look back on my career I probably will forget the game itself (it wasn't that memorable), but the atmosphere of a playoff game between two small towns across the state definitely will stick with me. And to whoever gave the advice to just soak it all in before the tip definitely gets some credit for that because that will live with me forever....
More importantly it makes me as an official want to continue to improve so those games become the norm in the future....