A high school basketball game in New Jersey is facing backlash after a referee invalidated the game-winning basket at the beat of the buzzer.
The dubious call occurred Tuesday as Manasquan High School trailed Camden by one point and was counting down to the end of the state semifinal game. However, the boys seemed to score a goal just in the last minute.
The team cheered as they saw victory in the game.
But things quickly turned alarming for Manasquan as referees crowded around the basket as the buzzer sounded. They quickly determined that the game-ending shot had been taken after the clock had reached zero, and the game was won by Camden rather than Manasquan.
The referee makes a stunning reversal with a buzzer-beater, throwing the New Jersey high school playoff game into chaos. https://t.co/oZZXrEq10M pic.twitter.com/MovmN3I0AD
— New York Post (@nypost) March 6, 2024
Crazy ending in New Jersey!! ️
Camden wins and advances to the finals 😳ὄBut did they win?
Manasquan brought the bucket back to take back the lead and clock out. But the referee overturned the basket! 🙃 pic.twitter.com/lwa6S1S6uJ
— Hoopfiends Ἴ💉 (@hoopfiends) March 6, 2024
After the game, Manasquan head coach Andrew Bilodeau said he believed there was still 0.6 seconds left on the clock when the shot was taken. And video from the final moments of the game appears to support the coach’s view.
“They reversed the call,” the Manasquan coach said. asbury park press. “The referee who was in the center C position signaled, ‘Basketball good,’ and they swarmed, and then 15 kids messed up in front of a crowd of 1,000 people. Print that out. 5 times. Please print it.”
“Those three got together and fucked the kids up in front of 1,000 people. That video is going to be on the internet for everyone to see,” Bilodeau angrily yelled.
This wasn’t even close. Manaskan was robbed! pic.twitter.com/RUogV8jw8K
— Coach Mike Rice (@CoachMikeRice) March 6, 2024
Camden coach Malik Wains insisted Tuesday night’s win was “lucky”.
However, many others felt that it was not “luck” that gave Camden the victory, but poor refereeing.
Trail Reference was right. I sincerely hope that the referee who decided on the exemption will be suspended. Manaskan was robbed! pic.twitter.com/4y53ZzBT2m
— Coach Mike Rice (@CoachMikeRice) March 6, 2024
For those of you who haven’t seen it yet, Manasquan (New Jersey) was really bad tonight. It’s a tough way down. https://t.co/21ywF9JquB
— Josh Verlin (@jmverlin) March 6, 2024
Did the referee see the video too? How did they make that decision? After the shot goes in, you look back at the clock and see it’s zero. Obviously, the shot left his hand before the clock ran out, but also after the initial cheers the buzzer sounded. how! ? ! ?
— Shuaiyb Newton, Esq. (@ThyCoffeeGuy) March 6, 2024
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