- November 25, 2024
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I had the chance to cover Atlantic’s boys basketball game against Deltona on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at Atlantic High School. You can read the full story on Page 10 of the Port Orange Observer, but here’s something you should know before you do.
With the game tied at 55, Deltona’s Jalen Monroe went the full length of the court and laid the ball in as the buzzer expired to hand the Sharks a loss.
It was a great play, and I was shocked to see how quickly Monroe was able to advance the ball up the floor.
But, while I was interviewing Atlantic coach David Howard for my story, I was shown a video replay that showed that the ball was clearly still in Monroe’s hand by the time the buzzer went off.
The layup should not have counted, and the game should have gone into overtime if the officials had made the correct call.
Before I continue, this is not a column designed to criticize refs, or anything of that nature. I absolutely do not blame the officials for the outcome of that game, even though the no-call at the end was plainly incorrect.
After all, high school officials do not have access to video cam-eras or slow motion replay like at the collegiate or professional levels. So being able to spot something that occurs in milliseconds with the naked eye is understandably difficult. Errors are going to happen, and sometimes it’s going to cost a team a chance at a win.
However, one thing I really admire about officiating at the college and pro level is the desire to get the call correct. While officiating at these levels can still irk many fans, there is some beauty in instant replay: What’s captured on-screen leaves no room for debate (usually). It’s definitive. It’s absolute.
So, that begs the question: If one of the officials from Wednesday’s game was shown the video of Monroe’s layup, should he or she be able to reverse the decision?
I say yes. It can be tough to reverse a call, with limited video of limited quality. But if proof can be submitted, why not consider it?
