A high school basketball playoff game in Michigan gave us a great example of why we should be happy that instant replay exists at the highest college and professional levels. West Bloomfield earned a 67-66 victory over Novi in double overtime on a controversial buzzer-beating layup.
West Bloomfield’s Kevin McAdoo hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer to advance his team to the state quarterfinals, but there is quite a bit of controversy over whether the shot was released prior to the clock expiring. A picture posted to Twitter of the final shot appears to show the ball still in McAdoo’s hands while the clock reads 0.0, which would mean the shot should not have counted.
It’s a picture taken from a distance, but if we enhance…
That appears to be ball in hand, with the clock at double-zero, but it’s a tough call to make as a ref because it’s so difficult to have an eye on the clock and the ball at the same time — and be looking for other possible fouls. It’s unfortunate for Novi and is a heart-breaking way to lose a double-overtime playoff game.
After the game, Novi’s coach Brandon Sinawi was not pleased with the lack of discussion or explanation about the final shot, which he felt clearly came after the buzzer, as he told HometownLife.com.
“When they don’t explain a call like in a situation like that, that’s where they are not sure,” Sinawi siad. “And he (Lackey) was do adamant about the call, and the other two officials couldn’t hear it, there’s no way they were going to overturn it. There was without a doubt the horn went because that was the only thing I was listening for, and I was looking at the ball. And when it went, I thought we won until he comes over and starts putting his hand down.”
Sinawi also said when he tried to approach the referee after the game the ref got very defensive and threatened him, so Sinawi could only voice his protest of the call that he felt robbed his kids of a win.
“Without question, a terrible, terrible call that cost my kids a regional championship, something Novi’s never gotten,” Sinawi said. “And he (Lackey) wants to threaten you after the game as if he’s defending himself. I’ve never seen a call like that in a situation like this, but he wanted to be the hero apparently, not my kids.”
This should serve as a reminder that we should be glad that instant replay is the norm now at the Division-1 and NBA levels of basketball, because if not, this is a thing that could still decide major college or pro hoops games.
Source: DIME on UProxx