If the arena already has PTS then that's just dumb not to use it. The officials don't even have to do anything different -- they can count and chop clock as normal and not even have to press their button. The clock can be started by a guy at the table as normal and the PTS packs used only to stop the clock.

I totally agree. But you still need to be aware of clock status, PTS or no PTS.

I believe that they had to have covered primary coverage area and double whistles in pregame, with the extra time they had from arriving to the arena earlier. Maybe even state tournament officials forget sometimes :o.

I need to state this. PTS is not the end all be all of solving clock problems. You still can have clock problems and you see they have them with the PTS. In the NCAA Tournament, there was a clock malfunction that helped cause a debate of if a player could be substituted for during that malfunction. My understanding the NCAA Tournament uses PTS in all their games. So assuming that would solve that issue is kind of silly when many big arenas use that system and we still see clock issues.

Secondly, it is likely not used because no official uses that system at all during the season and you might not want the first time to be the State Finals, which if not used properly or malfunctions, that would be an issue as well.

I disagree. The officials did not see the other official. Stopping the clock might have helped, but if you never recognize that your partner has a whistle then it does not matter. Even the Center held for some time but he clearly did not see his partner at all.

And for the record, I rarely know many officials that use the exact and proper mechanic in these situations. It is a great goal, but it is not often what happens in real life.

Peace

Primary coverage areas really do not apply in transition. You have to help out in many situations until everyone is settled in the FC. This was one of these situations that either official could have had a whistle in theory.

Peace

Learn this right now, bud: blue text = sarcasm on this forum.

I'm confused -- that's in blue, so is it true or is it sarcasm?

Argh, you're right as usual.

No one said it was end all be all. The system would have very likely been very beneficial in the situation shown.

Am I missing something here or do most states use PTS in the latter rounds of the postseason? Why are people acting all surprised that it wasn't used here?

Our (SC) state finals are in Columbia at the UofSC arena and PTS has never been used. I assumed that was the norm.

It might have like a lot of things in life "might" do something. But the problem again if you were paying attention, no one uses this system even part of the playoffs. So the biggest games of the year now have officials doing something they have not used likely their entire career until this very moment. So not just worrying about calling the game and doing all the other things we do as officials, now they have to add the usage of a device they might not even know how it works. I have used the system maybe 4 times total in my career. And the last time was over 10 years ago if I recall. So unless you use this system on an even semi-regular basis, I think that is the reason it is not used. It might not even be available to the IHSA either as assumed.

Peace

None ...
 

One of my buddies worked his first state tournament this past season. He made it all the way to the quarterfinals.

Connecticut, especially my little corner of Connecticut, doesn't use a lot of three person crews, but we always use three person crews in the state quarterfinals, semis, and finals.

He did a great job.

After that game I asked him about how much experience he had working three person games. He answered, "None, this is my first three person game ever".

"Three person scrimmages?". "None."

"Three person camps?". "None."

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3775/1...8029f778_m.jpg

The IHSA has used 3 person since 1997-1998 for all playoff games at all classes and levels. Three person is not something they do for the first time in this situation. I have never worked a single playoff game in my career other than 3 person.

Peace

Play 1 is so confusing. The C held his signal long enough for the L to do his half-assed PC signal, which the C should have seen. The C then follows with another half-assed block signal. If I were the L and had a whistle here I would have deferred to the C if he also had his fist up as his look was much better than my guess.

Play 2. Ouch. Loss of 5 crucial seconds hurts.

The Best Laid Plans Of Mice And Men Often Go Awry (Robert Burns) ...
 

That's why I always keep a Cape Canaveral mental countdown for the last 10-15 seconds of a period. This allows me to anticipate the horn, and, as far as I'm concerned, also gives me definite knowledge (if needed).

Of course it's preferable, and more accurate, if I look at the clock when a whistle sounds (as either the calling, or noncalliing, official).

I should probably say almost always. Sometimes the action may be so intense and my concentration on such action so focused, that I may not realize that the period is close to ending. That's why I expect (as pregamed) my partner to signal me (index finger in air) if we're less than a minute, and I will do likewise (if I'm aware).

Once, or twice, a season the plan goes "awry" and an unexpected and unanticipated horn goes off, scaring the hell out of me, almost giving me another heart attack. I hate it when that happens. It's a good thing that most schools today have automated external defibrillators on hand. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to finish the game.