End of game madness

[Rich]

Had a varsity girls game tonight.

43-42 home team. Ball is kicked out to the visitors' shooting guard for a last second shot. Well, there was about 4 seconds or so left.

As soon as the ball left the shooter's hands, I picked up the clock. Nothing but net. I heard the home coach screaming for a timeout, so I granted it immediately - I saw about 3 seconds left on the clock (.1 second clock).

Problem was the visiting team was out on the floor celebrating, and the visiting team's fans (they traveled well) were so loud that my whistle could barely be heard in the gym.

The timer let the clock expire.

I'm amazed at how quickly I got the floor cleared and 3 seconds back on that clock. I also got no argument from either coach, which was a change (you had to be there). Well, actually, the home coach made a half-hearted attempt of trying to get me to call a technical since the visiting team was celebrating on the floor, but he gave that up pretty quickly. The clock did run out, after all -- even though it wasn't supposed to.

Visitors took a 30 after the home team set up for the inbounds play on the far baseline.

Even with the 30, the home team completed a baseball pass to the other free throw line where the girl receiving the pass had an uncontested layup to the front of the goal.

She missed it.

Horn. Visitors win by one.

I was lead in the corner right next to the door. I walked out and my partner was right behind.

What a night. My last game of the season unless I fill in for someone.

Rich