Fisch Tank: Let them play!

Thanks for diving into the Fisch Tank!
It's been two days since the state championship finals in Columbia, so it has given me plenty of time to reflect on how bad the officiating was. First off let me get a few things out of the way; I'm by no means on a soap box, and do not hold anything against referees. I know it is a thankless activity, and their rewards are meager.

Now with that being said, for those that did not attend the SCHSL basketball state championships let me inform you on how bad the refereeing was. It was insanely horrible, I had the privilege of covering five of the six games that took place on Saturday. And with the exception of the Southside-Burke and Greenville- Myrtle Beach boys' games, the guys wearing the black and white stripe shirts should've never even laced them up. Phantom technical foul calls plagued the finals like a virus.

It started with the C.E. Murray game, when a technical foul was called on the War Eagles during a stoppage in play. It appeared Coach Mazcyk didn't even know why the foul was called and neither did the thousands in attendance. Turns out the referee did not like what one of the girls on the War Eagles team had to say.(I am leaving all players names out of this) Here's an idea to referees, how about a warning. Tell the coach and players to watch their choice of words.

In the boys 2A game between Calhoun County and Hemingway, a guard for the Tigers was cited with a technical. In a game that was inevitably decided by one point, resulting in only one of the free throws being made. That could've been the difference maker. I understand Hemingway missed 5 of 6 free throws late in the 4th quarter which gives them no reason for an excuse. But I can't help but feel all the whistles blown in the contest may have changed the outcome.

Though it was not on Saturday, Friday nights game between Spartanburg and Summerville's ending was severely affected by the zebras. All Saturday morning the buzz in the media room was about the night before and a possible game winning buzzer beater. Spartanburg launched a 75 footer and nailed it, but the three blind mice running the floor didn't really know if he got it off on time. Hence it resulted in Summerville winning the title.

As for the Myrtle Beach girls, they were robbed by a rim, so you can't really blame the referees too much. Yet, they were still over involved. I have never scene so many shots rim out in one game in my life.

Over the six games played on Saturday every one of them was interrupted by miserable traveling calls, and ticky tack fouls. Referees should be subject to a test to determine what is traveling and is not. I may be jumping to conclusions, but like the guy that plays way too hard in flag football because he was cut from the team in high school. The referees over the weekend seemed to want more spotlight time than Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears. Here is another crazy idea; put the whistle away and let them play. These are the best teams in the state, playing for the ultimate prize. And some how guys that couldn't even keep up with the players on the court were making calls from thirty feet away. How is that possible? These are the best referees in the state? Maybe that needs to be looked into. Or if it's the case they're the over zealous, trying to relive they're what could have been high school days, give it up. The lights that shined so brightly on the Colonial Center's main stage were not meant for you. It was meant for the student athletes that sacrificed so much for the opportunity to call themselves a champion. To me the only team that lost in Columbia over the weekend was the Zebras.

Typical scene on Saturday! (Photo Courtesy of Rebecca Ducker)

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