OFFICIATING - This seems to be something that just about every basketball fan is versed on these days. In fact, many times the fan knows more about the referee's business than the man in the striped shirt does. Each and every official has his method of calling games and the pair that had the Class B Sectional Tournament really went over with the crowd because of their showmanship.
It wasn't really that they were better than the other referees because as far as we can see there is no sure measuring stick to use on officials who are considered capable enough to handle basketball tournaments. We've seen quite a few games this year and we can't honestly remember a really "lousy" job by any official. There have been many calls that we thought should have gone...the other way however.
THE FAN - There always will be cases when the fan may be in a better position to see something that the referee can't see, but in most cases the official will be on the job at all times. Many of the calls come under the might of the "referee's decision." In a charging case, the official is the one who judges whether the offensive player or defensive play is the one who charged. His decision is final. That's why he's being paid to call the game.
The biggest trouble on the matter is that many fans, those who know a few rules, don't always keep up with the changes and then think the referee made a mistake, just as everyone else does, and they'll be the 1st to admit it. No 2 referees will be consistently able to work with a different partner every night. As the season progresses, an official will work with perhaps 20 or 30 other referees in games and the 2 will have to watch each other and see how the other calls them before they can make a good team.
SOME REFEREES - At times, referees call them close. Right by the book without deviation. Others will let the players have a little freedom. But whichever is the case, if the man were not capable, he wouldn't have a license to referee. As for how the officials are chosen for tournament play, this is done long before the teams ever start down the home stretch. Jim Galbraith of Jewett was put in to replace Gerald Trout of Cambridge for the Dover Class B District Tournament.
That was at the beginning of the season when Trout gave up refereeing because of poor health. But we think that Galbraith did a bang-up job, despite the handicap, if any, under which he worked. There is a certain burden that the official has in a game such as that. When your own hometown team plays in a game that means so much, you have to watch it close because either way, there will be somebody on your back.
FRANK COX AND JORDAN BESSOZZI - These guys took a bad lacing at the New Concord meet, but they turned in a creditable job. We've heard plenty of griping, but we don't think that any of the gripers could have done a better job. There were calls that we agreed with and calls that we might have called another way. There always will be in many instances. But we don't think that any team was affected to the point that their game was upset. Referees will always make mistakes. When we get the perfect official who can call the rule book as it is written, then we will have a mastermind who has penetrating vision and belongs to a super race.
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