Referees Admit To Screwing Up Buzzer-Beater Call in NJ Playoff Basketball Game

Referees from a New Jersey highschool playoff basketball contest are admitting they tousled massive time … saying they wrongfully referred to as off a buzzer-beating bucket on the finish of a recreation — however they can not do something about it.

The controversy occurred on the New Jersey Sports activities Interscholastic Athletic Affiliation Group 2 semifinal recreation between the Camden Panthers and the Manasquan Warriors on Tuesday … a matchup that got here right down to the wire.

The Panthers had been up by 1 with slightly below 6 seconds left … and after Warriors hooper Rey Weinseimer missed a 3-pointer, his teammate Griffin Linstra was positioned completely and nailed a put-back proper earlier than the clock hit zeros.

Warriors win, proper?! That is what everybody within the fitness center thought … however after a fast assembly, referees waived off the shot — reversing the end result.

The decision was stunning, contemplating footage clearly exhibits time on the clock (.4 seconds) when the ball left Linstra’s hand … and the officers’ mistake robbed the Warriors of advancing to the championship recreation.

The NJSIAA confirmed the refs had been improper … however rejected Manasquan’s attraction regardless, claiming they might not change the ultimate rating.

“So while the officiating crews’ reports indicate that a post-game review of footage of the play in question convinced them that the basket should have counted, the results could not then and cannot now be changed,” NJSIAA mentioned.

“These are the rules of the game that all schools agree to follow, and which have been upheld on appeal. We apologize to the Manasquan team for the error.”

The group defined as a result of the refs left the “visual confines of the playing court,” the end result was set in stone.

As you’ll be able to think about, Manasquan head coach Andrew Bilodeau was livid … not just for his gamers — however the Panthers as nicely.

“My heart for our kids but it also hurts for Camden. I hate to see their win be tarnished with any controversy. No kids deserve that.”