4 OTs...you've got to be kidding
 

The season is off to a roaring start...or at least slow and long start. My first varsity game of the year ended after 4 OTs. I've never before witnessed such a lengthy (and hideous) game.

I pose to all interested: what's the longest game you've officiated?

BJV game last year that went into 3OTs. Would of have a 4th one, but team that was down missed a gimmie and thus spared us a 4th OT. Needless to say, the varsity officials had a few choice words :D

Gamer - and I was one of em!
 

JV game before mine last night went 2 OT's! Our game started 45 minutes late! Long night!!

C'mon Padgett, you're just not getting the word out! :p

Had a small school JV girls game go 2 OTs. It was also the most hideous game I've ever done. The score was 18-18 with two minutes left in the 4th quarter. It was 18-18 two minutes into the 2nd overtime. A girl missed two free throws with no time on the clock at the end of the 1st overtime.

Hmmm, this could lead down an entirely different path. I have two that come to mind:

One was a 7G game where at the end of the first quarter the score was 0-0. No fouls. The only mark on the scoreboard was the "1" for the quarter. As I approached the table between quarters, the clock operator/AD looked at me with glassy eyes and said, "I've been doing this for 25 yrs, and that's six minutes of my life I'll never get back." :D

Another was a small private school, again 7G, where my partner and I blew the whistle so often for fouls and jump balls the first quarter I had a headache. Quarter must have lasted 30 minutes......I couldn't get out of that gym fast enough!

Back in "The Day"
 

Back when doing this to pay for college, when jump balls really were jump balls :eek:, the first game of a triple-header, a 6th grade girls' game, that I recall went 3OT's. Final score was in the teens. The next two games weren't much better, but at least they didn't last 2-1/4 hours like the first one. Jump balls really took a lot of time back then, remember?
Two nights ago: tie game; I call a foul on a missed layup with .2 seconds to go, sending a shooter to the line to win the game by 1. Whew, that was a close one! :o

I see you've been studying Padgett's book, "Better Living Through No Overtime". :D

We've been instructed here that if a varsity contest is scheduled after a sub-varsity contest, the varsity contest must start on time. We are to end the sub-varsity contest regardless at least 15 minutes before the schedules start of the varsity contest.

If there is still game time on the clock, the game is declared over with the team leading the winner. If the score is tied as that 15 minute mark nears, first team to score wins.

Haven't had to do that yet, and hope I don't have to. But at least no 3-hour JV games this year...

I don't like that at all. This is high school sports...let the kids play.

Why not go with a FT shootout ala soccer?

Agreed. Would not be a happy parent or player if my game was dismissed as meaningless.

What are they worried about? Certainly nothing to do with overtime pay.

This was suggested by the male students in the crowd. After the 1st OT, they suggested a game of lightning to determine the winner.

They also suggested that the first basket of the 2nd quarter determine the winner. After the horrific play of the 1st quarter, I thought they were on to something.

I've never before had to toss up 5 jump balls. Good practice, I guess.

3 OT last year....but both of my first two games this year went into OT.....I was starting to think I was doomed for the season! ;)

The JV game I worked last night went 3 OTs. We didn't get done with the varsity until 9:30....home at 10:30. It was a long night.

That's ridiculous. When the AD's call each other to schedule a game, they should just flip a coin and be done with it.