Do you make the call?

[LarryS]

HereÂ’s the situation from a high school regional championship game. Even though my daughterÂ’s school lostÂ…I can honestly say it was an excellently call game. In Texas, at the beginning of the year we were told that when player pops his jersey toward the other team (puts his thumbs under his shoulder straps and hold the jersey out away from his chest) that is a T for taunting. With that in mindÂ…

Home team hits two FTs to go up be 2 with 11 seconds left after the visiting team erased an 11 point 4th quarter deficit. Visitors advance the ball to their front court and call time. After the inbound play, the shot from the free throw line is partially blocked. There is a scramble for the ball, visiting team secures it but cannot get a shot off…clock expires…place starts going nuts. I happen to look right at one of the officials who his looking at the table (apparently to see the “thumbs up” sign being given that all is OK). Between me and the official, there is a player from the home team who is facing the visiting bench and “popping” his jersey. Odds are good, but not 100%, that he saw what I saw.

Question…if you were in that situation, would you see the “taunt” and call the T? Official either did not see it or passed. Given the circumstances…I think “I would not have seen it”. Visiting coach didn’t react or say a word…just congratulated the other team and left them to their celebration.