fairplaybyall

You are right Asitis, the score was the other way around. It will be a good game for USN since they have reinstated Hodge for basketball following his brief departure from the school the past few months. The powerhouse of 3 good shooting guards and the height that USN has to offer will give the DCA players more then its share of problems. DCA will have a hard time matching up with Hodge, Nash and their old playing partner Welch (who transferred from DCA). I see USN and FRA in the finals. I appreciate the comments from the recent post the past few days, I have to agree that the officiating has gotten pretty bad or basically nonexistant in the games that I've seen this year to the point that it does affect the outcome of many games. I think its a good idea for the TSSAA to look at how they can make it better. The current process is broken and needs fixing before next year. The game has gotten to fast for the officials as well as the fans (who do most of the screaming at the officials) and don't know much about the game. "The game would be better played if you let both teams on the floor, with 3 officials, cheerleaders, scorers, clock operators, and lock the doors and let them play", keep the parents out and the players would enjoy the game much better. Sometimes people forget, it's only a "game". I see a big win by USN and a close game from the Knox Webb and FRA game. Go Tigers

Nicely put BoyHowdy.......

Thank you Smokestack!, officiating crews always critique each other following each and every game on how the game was called (whether good or bad). It's part of the process, that's how you get better. I officiated for over 20 years including on the college level for 10 years. If your a parent - Congratulations on the 20 point win, you have something to brag about over lunch. My suggestions is for you to join the ranks of the officiating crews and come on down out of the fog (SmokeStack!) and contribute to the excitement of the game. Give officiating a try, because you must have missed the game Monday night and only read about it in the box scores..... Apparently you don't know much about the game of basketball!!! Good Luck

To the dgeeman; thank you for your view of the game, your were "point on" with the officiating crew and I have to say "your son deserves the respect as a player, leader, son, and someone to be proud of". It was my first Ezell game this year and I was impressed with your Team, Coaching Staff, and the way your fans handled themselves. "The yelling from the Ezell side was pointed towards the officiating crew - not the players, they were just looking for a fair game. It showed class on your part to congratulate the other players. I have to echo boogie123 "Thank you Gman - you represent everything that is right about youth sports". Maybe more parents should be proud of their children like you are, because it is - only a game. BoDawgs, your right, it was my first posting (but I read this forum from time to time). Your view of the game was just that your view from a DCA parents or players prospective and you appear to be a little confused. I talked to the officiating crew following the game (we used to call together from time to time) and I voiced my disappointment in their efforts to let a game get out of control by not doing the job they were paid to do. I have seen DCA play several times as I posted, (I have a friend who's grandchild goes to that school). The Ezell Team was "Beat Down" for sure and once the Gee player was taken out because of several tick tack fouls and poor officiating the game was pretty much over. Thank you for your comments. SmokeStack!, your comments - well just that, maybe you should lay off the smoke and learn the rules of basketball.....I haven't seen leadership at all on behalf of the DCA Team this year. In the games where the officials called a good game on both sides of the ball and the officiating crew didn't play a vital role in the outcome, they lost.... Mmmmmm , do you see a pattern SmokeStack! or are you still in the fog?????? VeerCoach, great comments - your right and I appreciate your comments as well. It's great to see some guys who do know the talent and respect that should be given to the players on the floor. They are the guys who work hard to be there and shouldn't have their efforts taken away by poor officiating. I don't have a dog in this race with either Team and I don't agree with the officiating that I've seen this year. They need to go back to the old grading system for officials (then you get held accountable) and train these guys to steep up and do a good job (the money is not much, but you do it because you love the game). Hopefully the TSSAA will revamp the way they select the crews to call the games. A game is only as good as the teams playing, the officiating crews and the excitement of the crowd. Now thats Basketball. It's time for the TSSAA to step up. Good luck to the Teams moving on.. It's tournament time!!!! I look forward to catching a few more games.

Officiating - Where did it go? I used to be an official before I retired a few years ago due to bad knees, my age and I have been fortunate enough to see several games this year. I enjoy traveling from gym to gym throughout the week to see a good basketball game. I have been shocked at every game I've attended to see the caliber of the officiating that these Teams are dealing with and how the officiating crews have become non existant. Last night for I was invited to go and watch the DCA game at Ezell (it was my 4th DCA game this year) to see this matchup between a young coach at Ezell and the old ball coach at DCA (I had heard about the Jenkins, Teague and Gee players from Ezell) and I wanted to see how they played. I was shocked to see how fast the officials took Ezell out of the game. DCA was playing aggressive, and no fouls were being called against them (the old ball coach was sitting on the bench chewing on his towel just like when I wore the stripes) and within 2 minutes the Gee kid (one of the best point guards I've seen this year) picked up two quick ones and had to sit out for the rest of the quarter. DCA continued to push, undercut, and set moving screens with nothing being called against them and finally took the lead and never looked back after Gee fouled out (on a few questionable calls). I was shocked when I overheard one of the officials say that they aren't looking for moving screens tonight.... or it's not my call... my partner missed another one... I thought "what happened to watching the entire floor guys and calling the game?" Hold on officiating crew.. a foul is a foul. The old ball coach got out with a win at the expense of the officials and numerous no calls and the helter skelter style of play that makes DCA who they are... The best Team didn't win on this night from what I could see, the Ezell Team came up against a buzz saw and 3 officials who forgot how to call the game with integrity (these were 3 seasoned officials mind you). It's great to see a Team play with discipline, poise, and the never give up attitude like Ezell did and I tip my hat to you, you are a very well coached Team. Way to go guys, you played as well as you could against an 8 man Team. Maybe I need to come back out of retirement, if the old knees could handle it..... I believe I could do as good a job as these guys did and not even try. Maybe they need to retire as well. Bad officiating is not good for the game we all love to watch. Good luck down the stretch DCA...