The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks didn't bring all people together in my home state. In fact, each opponent during 6-C Conference play seemed to be violently attacking my adopted daughter's team, the St. Charles Saints, from a small private school.
One-sided violent play was virtually ignored during the 2001 junior high girls basketball season, then played during the fall in Montana. Things got so bad that I asked a basketball referee to grant an interview on the condition his identity would never be revealed. He agreed and we talked.
The referee cautioned fans, who come to the gym with a critical attitude towards the officials, saying if a fan comes in with a chip on their shoulder, then they are stuck with that attitude for the duration of the game. I think he's right, preconceived notions can be hard to change regardless of what happens.
This referee said he tries to maintain an awareness of what God's standards are and what his are and tunes everybody out except for other officials working the game. I wish they all would do that, but sometimes there are so many no-calls that officials appear to be over-reacting to vocal coaches and fans, some of whom may be constantly asking for fouls. Granted, referees should never let coaches or fans decide a call for them, but neither should they forget about protecting players. The referee I interviewed said that is a top priority.
Thursday the issue manifested during Lincoln's 57-55 home court loss to Shiloh Christian.
Lincoln was leading 45-43 when the controversy began with a no-call. Lincoln's Natalie Howard was tripped while trying to pass off in the half-court offense. She fell head first to the hardwood sustaining a knot on her face. With her legs cut out from underneath her, the pass went nowhere and was easily stolen by Shiloh. Play continued as Howard writhed on the floor and a touch foul was called against Lincoln trying to defend with a 5-on-4 disadvantage at the other end.
The third quarter clock showed 2:53 remaining. Howard remained prone on the floor in obvious pain for several minutes before being taken to the locker room as her mother, Lincoln assistant coach Stephanie Howard, worked to get the swelling down. Head girls basketball coach Brian Davenport engaged the officials while play was halted. During an extended stoppage of play Lincoln was assessed a technical foul and Shiloh took full advantage with Idalia Enos making 4 of 4 free throws.
When play resumed Shiloh had a 47-45 lead and the basketball. They in-bounded from the side and at the 2:44 mark senior Shiloh guard Rachel Breeding threw an elbow to clear away a Lincoln defender. There was no whistle, but the Saints missed. Lincoln finally got a call when Kennedy Berus was called over the back on the rebound with the Saints ahead by two.
That whistle came with 2:40 remaining in regulation breaking the streak of four straight Shiloh points courtesy of the charity stripe and four consecutive rulings, including two no-calls, all of which went against Lincoln. The technical foul was added to Lincoln's team total of nine, insuring the Saints would shoot the double-bonus for the rest of the game.
Over the years I have asked other sports figures about these type of situations. Last spring while interviewing NFL Hall-of-fame cornerback Aeneas Williams at Branson, Mo., my question, "If two equally-matched teams, which are equally-matched in talent, equally-matched in ability, and equally-prepared, meet and one invokes the blessing and the other doesn't, does that put the team which doesn't invoke the blessing at a competitive disadvantage?"
"That's a good question, I don't know how to answer that," said Williams, a born-again Christian and ordained pastor of a church in Ferguson, Mo.
In this case, the obvious answer is Shiloh did benefit from no-calls. Because they are faith-based, Shiloh is going to pray a blessing over their players. Enos, daughter of Arkansas Razorbacks' offensive coordinator Dan Enos, played the entire fourth quarter and overtime, 12 minutes straight, without being called for a fifth personal foul after picking up her fourth in the third. She scored 14 points in the fourth and two more in overtime.
So, how do rural teams counter a program like Shiloh Christian?
There are three things that can be implemented immediately.
• Change the tone of communications. A subtle shift from making a demand for fouls to be called towards placing an urgent request for protection of players may cause the referees to evaluate how the game is being called.
• Pray for a shield of favor according to Psalm 5:12 to surround coaches and players.
• Utilize team captains in expressing concerns to the referees. The referee I interviewed suggested a respectful approach will carry a lot more weight and properly conveyed can draw attention to rules violations.
MARK HUMPHREY IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE ENTERPRISE-LEADER.
Sports on 01/11/2017