Tale of Tape Reverses Tie; Kennedy Loses

In what could be an unprecedented ruling in high school basketball, officials reviewed a television replay and changed a three-point basket at the buzzer to a two-point shot, turning what would have been an overtime game into a 32-31 Fairfax High win over Kennedy in a Valley League game Thursday at Fairfax.

Kennedy guard Cord Bailey made a desperation, off-balance jump shot that apparently sent the game into overtime but instead touched off a 10-minute conference among coaches and officials, who huddled around a TV monitor for a replay.

A 25-minute shouting match between Kennedy Coach Yutaka Shimizu and officials followed the ruling.

Shimizu became enraged when the call was reversed, and when both officials buttoned their jackets to leave, the usually stoic coach demanded that they sign the score book. Shimizu said he would protest the outcome with City Section administrators.

The officials, Al Rambo and Garfield Findley, had no comment. Coaches, players, fans and broadcasters, however, compared the scene to a nationally televised game last season between Nevada Las Vegas and Oklahoma.

In that game, CBS commentator Brent Musburger conferred with officials, who turned a three-point basket by UNLV at the end of the first half into a two-point shot. UNLV eventually lost by a point. The Kennedy game was broadcast by Westside-based American Cablesystem Community Television.

“That’s why we decided to let the officials use the equipment,” said broadcaster Steve Price, referring to the Musburger incident. “The refs run the game and we do what they ask, correct or incorrect.”

Fairfax Coach Harvey Kitani said he was not reminded of the Las Vegas game until he heard mumblings from the crowd. “I thought Musburger was a big dummy,” Kitani recalled. “Who is he to give his two cents worth? I’m a little biased now that we won, though.”

Kennedy forward Eugene Miller was more shocked than mad. “This isn’t the NFL and we don’t use replays,” he said. “If the TV crew wasn’t there, then we win.”

Or, at least, tie.

Before the controversial call, Fairfax (16-4, 10-1), the defending City Section 4-A Division champion, used a deliberate offense to lead the entire way. Fairfax was in command, 29-19, with four minutes remaining.

The Golden Cougars (15-4, 7-4) stayed close by defusing Fairfax All-American center Chris Mills, holding him to nine points--none in the second half. Randy Brown and Miller took turns covering Mills, who averages 30 points a game.

But Kennedy did not play offense like it played defense, at least not until the final four minutes when the Golden Cougars scored eight consecutive points.