Iowa high school basketball games postponed due to referee no-show

[Nevadaref]

Iowa high school basketball games postponed due to referee no-show

There are a lot of things on a basketball coach's mind before a big game: what defense to run, what lineup to start, even what shirt to wear.

But there's one question that most coaches never have to ask just before tipoff: "Where are the referees?"

That can't be said for the boys and girls basketball coaches at Iowa schools Lawton-Bronson and IKM/Manning, who had their games canceled on Tuesday night when the scheduled officials never showed up for the game.

"The (IKM) athletic director had a signed contract and he did his job, but the issue was that no one showed up," Lawton-Bronson athletic director and boys coach Vince Johnson told the Des Moines Register. "This is my nightmare as an A.D. You have signed contracts and you confirm it, but it doesn’t come together."

The evening promised to be an exciting one, as all four teams came in undefeated and ranked highly in their division. Instead the teams and the anxious crowd waited 45 minutes, desperately searching for a replacement, before the Lawton-Bronson teams got back on the bus and made the 100-mile return trip.

The games have been rescheduled for Jan. 10, with the site yet to be determined.

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Referee no-show spoils big high school basketball games

Four unbeaten teams remain that way after doubleheader mishap

10:57 PM, Dec 18, 2012 |


Tuesday night in Manning was supposed to feature an exciting doubleheader of unbeaten basketball teams.
All four teams are still undefeated — because the referees who were scheduled to officiate the games never showed up.
The Lawton-Bronson boys’ and girls’ teams got back on the bus and returned home — a nearly 100-mile trip — without getting a chance to play IKM-Manning.
“The (IKM) athletic director had a signed contract and he did his job, but the issue was that no one showed up,” Lawton-Bronson athletic director and boys’ coach Vince Johnson said. “This is my nightmare as an A.D. You have signed contracts and you confirm it, but it doesn’t come together.”
The girls’ game included Class 2-A’s No. 2 IKM-Manning and No. 4 Lawton-Bronson, with both teams boasting 8-0 records. The boys’ game had 2-A’s fourth-ranked IKM-Manning (8-0) against the 1-A Eagles (unranked but 7-0).
“I kind of have a routine where I wait for the national anthem of the girls’ game to get done before getting the guys ready, and I kept waiting and waiting and waiting,” IKM-Manning boys’ coach Keith Wagner said. “It’s definitely disappointing.”
The makeup date for Tuesday’s highly-anticipated Western Valley Conference games is scheduled for Jan. 10, with the site to be determined.
Roger Barr, director of officials with the Iowa High School Athletic Association, said individual schools are responsible for hiring and confirming game officials throughout the regular season.
“It’s very unfortunate that you have that type of thing happen,” Barr said. “But we don’t take over official scheduling until the postseason.”
IKM-Manning attempted to reach out to local officials, hoping someone might have been available, but the games were finally waved off after 45 minutes of waiting.
“The gym was going to be packed, and we had a pretty full house here,” Wagner said.
Fans admitted into Tuesday night’s games will be allowed into the makeup game at no charge.