It ends with a bang

[mplagrow]

Had my last action of the season tonight. Two 8th grade consolation games, girls then boys. The girls game went to two OT's, the boys to one OT.

If I had shown any common sense, we would have avoided the double OT. I called a charge on what would have been the winning layup with three seconds left. It wasn't a vicious charge, but it was enough. I know a lot of guys wouldn't have gone after it, but instinct kicked in. Stupid instinct.

[shave-tail]

Will you sleep better or worse tonight since you know you made the right call?

[Adam]

Nice job, the defender earned the right to that call by making a good play to get into position.

[mplagrow]

You know, Shave Tail, I asked myself the exact same thing, and I think I'll sleep better. I admit that it helps that the team that got the basket taken away won in the end!

And Snaq, what you said to me is exactly what I told the coach and my partner, too. I wasn't going to take it away from her!

[BillyMac]

Why do basketball officials "pretend" that they don't like overtime games. It's exciting for players, coaches, fans, and officials. If nonofficials hear us "pretending" not to like overtime games, they might get the wrong impression that we just want to finish the game, get our paycheck, and go home as soon as possible. Officials on all levels. Please stop this "pretending". It makes me ashamed to be an official.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Why do basketball officials "pretend" that they don't like overtime games. It's exciting for players, coaches, fans, and officials. If nonofficials hear us "pretending" not to like overtime games, they might get the wrong impression that we just want to finish the game, get our paycheck, and go home as soon as possible. Officials on all levels. Please stop this "pretending". It makes me ashamed to be an official.

Overtimes? Personally, I don't allow them. If the game is close near the end, I tell my partner, "If this goes into overtime - IT'S YOUR FAULT!!!"

I tell people that, as an official, I don't care who wins the game. All I care about is that at the end of regulation time, one team has at least one point more than the other.