This morning I am asking for some audience participation. As I have said many times, I have no expertise in basketball, either rules or officiating.

A situation occurred in a high school basketball game recently, and I would like very much to hear from some experts if it was officiated and enforced correctly.

Fourth quarter, 26 seconds left, team A leading by 14 points. A Team A player gathered a rebound under Team B’s basket and was immediately grabbed and thrown to the floor by a Team B player.

The covering official correctly and quickly called an intentional foul (is the &uot;crossed arms&uot; signal proper for that foul?). Two uninvolved players immediately got into a fight, which was just as quickly broken up.

Three Team B players left their bench and attempted to get into the battle, and before they could be restrained they were ejected, along with the two fighters. Several Team A players attempted to leave their bench, but were restrained by a coach before they could get into action.

The fracas happened at the end of the court closest to Team B’s bench, and had it happened at the other end maybe Team A would have had those ejections.

I understand the ejections, but my question is this &045; the officials awarded Team A eight free throws. The Team A player who was fouled took six shots (making all six) and the sub for the ejected player took the other two.

I never heard an explanation from the officials, but an off-duty basketball official, whose son plays for one of the teams, commented that only four shots should have been awarded &045; two for the intentional foul and two technicals for leaving the bench.

The free throws had no impact on which team won, so it is not likely that either team will appeal that rule enforcement. The Mississippi High School Activities Association might have a small investigation, but that is not going to impact either team.

No fans left the seats to get involved, and the coaches restored order quickly. Both teams finished the game with younger players, and there was no additional trouble.

Team A’s ejected player will miss the opening division tournament game, and Team B’s ejected players will miss a meaningless regular-season finale against the No. 1 team in the state in its classification.

What do National Federation rules have to say on this subject?

On the same subject, I chose not to list by name the kids ejected. This was not for reluctance to embarrass the players because they will be ostracized enough for making their teams play a game without them in the lineup.

The Team B players, I understand, also missed their Senior Night game. I simply wanted to avoid giving them notoriety. There is a philosophy in reporting that you must say the bad with the good, and if the Editor or Publisher want the kids to be named, they will be named.

Again, I would surely like to hear some opinions from you. Either e-mail me, call The Democrat or call or write me. Whatever works.

And that’s official.

Al Graning is a former SEC official and former Natchez resident. Reach him at

AlanWard39157@aol.com

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