Bulldawg loss was painful to see

by "Big Joe" Lombardi 

Cup O' Joe 

Imagine this.

Our team is playing an old opponent in a very big District 12-6A boys basketball game before the home folks. We're a game behind them in the standings and it's time to make that up.

Your team, our team, my team, has played their hearts out over 31:58 and have a two-point lead, an advantage we've held for the majority of play.

Then....disaster strikes, at least for Bulldawg players and fans.

Cove was playing the Temple Wildcats, who got the ball, rushed it upcourt, got it to someone in the corner who lifted a heave shot which...you, guessed it, hit nothing but net as the buzzer sounded.

Pandemonium and maybe a little posturing after the supposed three ball fell through happened, but once that was squared away, all eyes were on center court.

Game officials were huddled to try and agree on the call, while getting an earful from Cove fans saying it was a two-point goal, while naturally hearing from Temple's faithful screaming for a three, which the refs finally awarded, giving the visitors a 60-59 win.

I must admit one of those yelling for a two, which would have sent the tilt to overtime, was me. At least, the microphone I had been using was turned off and when the fan in me came out, throttling what was supposed to be non-biased announcing, nobody heard my big mouth...

at least I don't think they did. My voice was just one of hundreds who wanted a Bulldawg win.

To be fair, Cove has won on last second shots before and I don't remember complaining about those, but here's the question:

Was the Temple shooter's toe on the line or behind it? Does high school basketball need a way for officials, like in college, to look at replays and see for sure?

No, we don't need that and we sure don't need a shot clock at this level. This is one of the still pure versions of a game that's fun for the kids and fans...most of the time anyway...except on a night like Friday, January 13, 2023.

The loss was painful, but occasionally the agony of defeat outdoes the thrill of victory. Things just sometimes happen that way.

Go Dawgs!