Friday, 29 February 2008 22:56 by
Dave Perhaps it’s because I’m a shameless homer. Or in my old age I don’t see as well as I used to.
But I’ve played back in slow motion the final five seconds of the Loudoun County-Charlottesville game from Thursday night on my DVR about a dozen times. I still don’t see the foul.
Granted, the perspective is from the center court camera we were using in our Comcast broadcast, so the view from the center jump circle (where the official who blew the whistle was watching) could have been different.
But the ball was loose and players from both teams were fighting to get possession with the score tied at 62-62. The tussle began when Charlottesville’s Shawntae Payne tried to throw a pass in the final 10 seconds of overtime into the lane. Loudoun County’s Kendra Holmes tipped it away, and soon after, she and Elizabeth Von Storch just about knocked each other down to get to the ball. As they both hit the floor, the ball popped free, Payne got her hand on the ball for one dribble, then almost lost her balance stepping over Von Storch, who was on the floor.
In that situation, it’s anybody’s ball. Payne and the Raiders’ Brittany Batts were both going for the ball and they nudged each other when the foul was called. I’ve seem more contact when Paul Draisey reaches across the press table for some honey mustard.
With 3.4 seconds left in overtime, that was a situation demanding a no-call, particularly when only two seconds before, officials allowed Holmes and Von Storch to almost knock each other down. If so, the buzzer would have sounded, and both teams would have played a second overtime.
But that didn’t happen. So now I have some extra time on my hands. Perhaps I can look a bit harder…for that foul…
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Tuesday, 26 February 2008 02:50 by
Dave In most sports, the clock is the law. This season in the Dulles District, it was a suggestion.
Take Saturday’s girls championship game in the Dulles District tournament. Loudoun County called timeout to set up its final play with 2.4 seconds left on the clock. When the play began, however, the officials had added six-tenths of a second back to make it an even 3.0. Not important, you say? Well, Freedom blocked the Lady Raiders’ first attempt at a buzzer beater, then Alissa Kain threw the loose ball at the basket. The ball hit the front of the rim, the backboard, and then fell through to the delight of the of the Loudoun County faithful.
Officials said the ball left Kain’s hand with two-tenths of a second left. Had they not tinkered with the clock, Freedom wins. What exactly did they see that resulted in six-tenths of a second being added?
Then there was the Dominion-Freedom boys game earlier this season. Similar situation, as Dominion called a timeout with 1.2 seconds left. Officials, however, put back another 1.2 seconds to give the Titans 2.4 seconds. A great instant replay by Comcast shows Deandre Albritton launching a three-pointer with just six-tenths of a second left to win the game. But if the officials don’t add the time back, Dominion loses.
Then there was the strange case of the Dominion-Loudoun County boys game. Dominion went ahead in the final seconds, then Loudoun County threw a length of the floor pass that resulted in an apparent winning layup for the Raiders before the buzzer sounded. No, officials said. The clock was too slow in starting, they ruled. Game over, Dominon wins.
Unusual things happen. But this season in the Dulles District, three close finishes were up to the officials, not the time on the clock. When a game ends shouldn’t be a judgment call. That’s something, before next season, that needs to be fixed.
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