Officials Use TV Replay to Help Make a Call in City Basketball Game

In a violation of national federation rules, two referees consulted a television replay to help decide the outcome of Thursday’s City high school basketball game between Kennedy of Granada Hills and Fairfax.

With Fairfax leading, 32-29, in the important Valley League game, Kennedy guard Cord Bailey scored from the top of the key at the buzzer. One referee, Al Rambo, signaled it as a three-point shot, which would have sent the game into overtime, while the other, Garfield Findley, called it a two-point shot.

That touched off a 10-minute conference among coaches and the referees. The referees walked toward the American Cablesystems Community Television table, from where the cable station had been broadcasting the game, and watched the replay.

Finally, the shot was ruled a two-pointer, giving Fairfax a 32-31 victory. Coach Yutaka Shimizu said afterward he would protest.

Friday, Rambo, a veteran referee, refused to comment on whether he and Findley used the replay to make the decision. He said they had voided the three-point basket before watching the tape at courtside, but then added:

“It was not based on the TV replay totally. The other referee (Findley) said it was a two-point shot. In my mind, I wanted to see it to make sure.

“My partner tried to convince me it was a two-point shot. I said, OK, it could have been a two-point shot, but just to be sure, I would like to see it. . . . Whether it was legal or illegal, the bottom line is to get it right.”

Dick Schindler, assistant director of the National Federation of State High School Assns. and editor of the rule book, said it was illegal, in the basketball sense of the word. Unlike in the college rule book, there is no mention of the use of television or replays in the rule book, in which case it is declared a provisional rule. That is, since the issue is not covered, it is not allowed.

“It’s not an option to use TV, simply because there are so few games available that have it,” he said from Kansas City, Mo. “And then you have to set the procedure of what to do to be able to see it.”

According to Mike DeGrane, the director of the telecast on the Wilshire District cable company, the referees made the decision to watch the replay. That has become the true issue of Kennedy’s expected protest, rather than whether it was a two- or three-point basket by Bailey.

“The only reason we let them look at it is because they came over and asked us,” DeGrane said Friday. “We didn’t tell them we had a replay or anything. If the refs asked us again tomorrow, we’d do it again. As far as we’re concerned, the refs are supposed to interpret the rules.”

The win kept Fairfax, the defending City 4-A champion, in a first-place tie with Cleveland of Reseda at 10-1. Kennedy is 7-4. The Valley League season concludes Wednesday.