Victory stands despite error

Basketball officials awarded Cripple Creek's boys a 51-49 win over Colorado Springs School last Saturday on a lastond shot that did not go through the hoop.

Game video clearly shows that Chad Chapman's shot should not have counted, according to Chuck Howell, basketball director for the Colorado High School Activities Association. Though the game officials admitted they made a mistake, there is no way to correct the problem.

"There's nothing that can be done about it," said Howell. "Once the officials leave the floor the game is over. It's not a correctable problem."

CHSAA rules dictate that the game is over when the officials leave the floor and no judgment or misapplication of the rules can be considered after the contest.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Chapman was fouled and a whistle blew to stop play as he heaved up a 15-footer. The ball hit off the backboard and teammate Justin Ridgway tipped it into the basket as the game-clock buzzer sounded.

Chapman walked to the free-throw line as the three officials conferred near midcourt. After a few moments, chief official Mike Miller told the official scorer to credit Chapman with a basket, giving Cripple Creek the victory. Miller, along with fellow officials Randy Milam and Kevin Grantham, then exited the court.

"For a while, I thought they gave Ridgway the basket," Chapman said. "When I found out they gave me the basket I didn't know what to think. I wanted to win the game. But not that way."

CSS coach Robb Kelley attempted to have the officials come back onto the court and offer an explanation. His request was not granted by the officials, who are not required to give an explanation after the game is over.

Cripple Creek coach Jim Bertrand was also surprised by the call.

"Everybody stood there for 10 minutes wondering what was going on," Bertrand said. "Nobody moved. We weren't sure what happened. It wasn't a good situation. Both teams played hard only to see it end the way it did. We still had kids and fans asking us Monday morning if we won the game."

Bertrand sent a videotape of the final seconds of the game to CHSAA for review.

Howell reviewed the videotape Thursday morning and agreed that Chapman should have been sent to the freethrow line because a foul was called as he shot the ball.

"Clearly, (the officials) made a mistake," Howell said. "They thought the shot by (Chapman) went in. They never saw (Ridgway) tip it in. They assumed Chapman made the shot."

Howell added that the CHSAA is taking no immediate action with Miller, Milam and Grantham. Howell deferred the matter to the Upper Arkansas Valley Basketball Officials Association -- of which the three officials are members -- to deal with the issue. He also sent a copy of the videotape to the officials association for review.

Howell and Bob Marken, who assigns officials for the UAVBOA, denied The Gazette's requests for the officials' phone numbers. Attempts to reach Miller were unsuccessful.

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