Crowd Pleaser : After 57 Fouls, Refs Delight Everyone by Quitting Early

The referees walked out before halftime, but the women’s basketball game went on between John Wood Community College and Lewis & Clark College.

The referees got a standing ovation when they left Tuesday, but it wasn’t out of appreciation.

Lewis & Clark Coach Randy Martz and Wood Coach Jim Shields were upset with the officiating of Hugh and Doug Anderson. A total of 57 fouls were called, and four players fouled out.

Two minutes before halftime, Martz was given a technical and the officials called the coaches for a conference.

“One of the refs said, ‘Guys, this is getting ridiculous,’ ” Martz said. “And I said, ‘You’re calling so many fouls, we’re going to end up playing with four players.’ And (Hugh Anderson) said, ‘You don’t have any players on the court, anyway.’ ”

Said Shields: “That was a terrible remark. So I asked (Hugh) to apologize, and he did, but then I said, ‘You’ll never work here again.’ And they told me they weren’t going to finish the game.”

They didn’t, the two coaches called the rest of the half, and Wood baseball Coach Mark Gassman and Glenn Meyers, a student, finished the game. Wood won, 64-60, in overtime.

“The other guys did a great job,” said Martz. “It actually turned out to be a good game.”

Hugh Anderson said he had no comment.