As someone who is very close to the program and has watched every Vinton County Vikings basketball game over the last 20 years, and many other high school basketball games, I weep for the state of the game. I ran into a well-known official from the southeast district shopping on Saturday, he has done sectional, districts, boys and girls games, who has 32 years of experience of officiating and he concurred. He, like me, say that there is just not enough interests from individuals that could make a difference on the officiating side. And those that are in, are contemplating their place within the game because of the politics of it all. If you don't know the right people, have the right relationship, or "grease" the right palm, you don't get tournament games. We have to remember, although they are officials, they are human. They want to be the "best," they want to be "respected," and they want to be "chosen" for tournament games.
As far as this game, I believe that there is a fundamental flaw in the tournament officiating and that being officiating crews are not working together. You would think that it shouldn't matter and that a foul is a foul, and a violation is a violation. However, the official I ran into, stated that there is a rhythm, trust, and being on the same page to a crew. Just as you would suspect from a basketball team, there is among veteran crews the same rhythm, trust, and knowing where you are suppose to be when you are supposed to be there.
That was clearly evident last Thursday night. There are several calls that stick out to me. First, late in the first half the trail official (the last official up the floor) called a charge. That should never happen. What was he thinking, the lead official (the official closest to the play) miss it, he didn't trust him to make that call or what? We don't know, because we can't ask him. In all of my years of watching high school basketball, I don't think I have ever seen a trail official call a charging foul. Secondly, in the second half, one of ours, was driving to the hoop and got his feet tangled up with the JG defender as he tried to spin, he was call for the charge, but on film, the JG player was clearing running with him trying to get into a legal defensive position. The lead official was not able to get back to the baseline like he should have, called the VC kid for charging. However, and I seen this on film, the call should have been traveling against the VC player. Lastly, as this post is getting too long. In the first quarter, Rackley received the ball from above the right elbow, ripped threw as good players do, went right, our defender said later, "I was beat and I fouled him." However, Rackley took one dribble, took his step and scored, and the official counted the basket. It was NBA continuation at its best, which should never happen in high school basketball. The very next trip, our player gets mugged in the lane, missed the basket, no call, rebound to JG and they were off to the races. That my friends is what the casual fan gets irritated about, the inconsistency of it all and not working together fosters inconsistency. Where were those officials from, you may ask? Two were from the Southwest District and the other from the Northeast, so chances are, they have never worked together.
Do I think we could have beaten John Glenn. No. Absolutely not. I am still trying to decide if they are best high school team I have ever seen. I don't think so, maybe my list goes something like this:
5). 2016 John Glenn
4). 2008 Chillicothe
3). 2000 ASVSM
2). 2006 North College Hill
1). 2001 ASVSM
Again, like I said before, the last time we were in the situation we lost to the eventual state champion. Therefore, Go John Glenn!
Also, you can follow Vinton County Vikings Basketball on Facebook. Please, feel free to stop by and like our page.
https://www.facebook.com/Vinton-County- ... 163930972/
