A Visit From One Of The 3 Nephites - 2012 Opening Nite Stake Men's Basketball

6:00 PM Game    Cortina 1st vs Cortina 2nd

When Cortina 2nd Ward was a NO SHOW I was thinking "somethings never change" – namely teams not showing up on game night…… And this is MY home ward, too! Led by Kyle McCluskey, who has successfully navigated Cortina to be a perennial 3rd place finisher and everything. Most teams would give the boot to a manager that can't do better than 3rd place year after year, but Cortina 2nd doesn't have anyone else willing to take the lead or any more capable, so Kyle remains…… I later learned Cortina had a "Daddy Daughter" Primary Activity and that's why they were a No Show, except for one fellow that did show up who evidently does not have a daughter in primary. That his wife & young kids came to watch would verify that assumption.

A Cortina 1st Warder warming up for the game that was not to be, put up a shot that was obviously not gonna hit the rim & hollered, "Oh NO, it short." His ever sympathetic teammate quipped, "probably won't be the only short shot you have tonight!" Such fellowship!

Those that did show up decided to revert to the traditional method of selecting teams & shoot free throws. The 1st five that make a free throw are on a team. After a half dozen brick shots I told them to just count out 1 - 2, 1 - 2, etc. to select teams as they would only had 40 minutes of game time & by the time five of them made a free-throw the time allotted to play would all be used up. (And the same guys that can't make a free throw like to attempt three point shots!!)

"RAWR!" Image by Riley Kaminer via Flickr

6:40 PM Game    Ironwood vs Nauvoo Station

A quick reminder, my son Tyler has finished his US Army service which included two tours in Afghanistan. First as a Paratrooper with 82nd Airborne, then as a Sergeant with Psy Ops / Special Operations.

Tyler has whined his whole ball playing career that I am unfair and do not call foul on players when theyfoul him. Feel free to hammer him when you play Nauvoo Station. I'm still not gonna give him any breaks!!

I've got to admit my son Tyler did make me proud in his debut playing for Nauvoo Station in the Queen Creek North State Men's Basketball Program and almost lived up to the hype he was putting up about his "game". In fact, Nauvoo Station finally won a game, prevailing 46 to 33 this time. The Nauvoo station brethren need to take up a collection & buy some "up to date" shorts for one of the Garlock boys who showed up wearing shorts that were throwbacks to the late 70's - way too short & way too tight. Avoiding the embarrassment of being seen by the Sistern of the ward was the only good thing about none of those single Sistern in showing up to watch the game. Fortunately Brother Wright, the ever faithful bishopric member, did show up and handled the scorekeeping duty.

If you've never seen Northern Arizona Native American "Reservation Basketball" you've not seen an awesome display of fitness & endurance and a unique brand of basketball. This season I worked a Post Season Tournament Game in Prescott Village at the Tim's Toyota Center. Many of the teams were from the reservation. Just prior to the Tip Off of my game a Native American fan hollered, "get ready to run like you've never run before ref!!" And he was right, too!! Well, Nauvoo Station had a Native American player show up. No one seemed to know if he was in their ward or had been invited by a ward member to come play. (He might even be one of the 3 Nephites for all I could find out). From the moment he stepped on the floor until he stepped off the court he did not stop running. He ran whoever was guarding him from Ironwood ward ragged. It was great to see that style of play, so I hope he plays the rest of the season!! If he does, and you're guarding him – get ready to run!!

A pleasant surprise for this game was Chris Capps of the Cortina 2nd Ward, a season High School Varsity and Tournament experienced Referee, he showed up to say saying he'd come to help referee. Also Jon Mott, Ironwood Crossing's Elder Quorum President, former Globe High School Boys Varsity Coach and currently coaching at Coolidge High School also showed up saying he'd come to referee. He figured learning more about how referees work and think would help him be a better High School Coach. That may be so, but the thing that would best help Jon to be a better coach would be to have a few players on his team taller than 5' 8"…… Tough to rebound & win against a 6' 5" Center when your Center is 5' 8".

7:20 PM Game    Cortina 3rd vs Vineyard 

I don't remember much about this game. One of the players was a fellow I had taught as a Teachers Quorum Advisor when I first moved to Queen Creek five years ago. Nothing like seeing a "kid " you taught and finding out he's now 19 to make a fellow feel old!! I was in such a state of shock I don't know if we even had two full teams.

8 PM Game       Desert Mountain vs Ranch 

8:40 PM Game    Cambria vs Rittenhouse 

Don't remember anything about these games I was working with Jon Mott on the court and did not take any notes. Jon has learned that when a ball goes Out of Bounds & he is the referee nearest the ball, it is advisable for him to blow his whistle. Jon's most common question of the night was, "Guess I should have blown my whistle on that play, shouldn't I?" He is learning it's a lot easier to referee from the coaches sideline then when wearing the striped shirt.

I'm hopeful Jon and Chris can help referee most of our games because when they can't you brethren will get to experience the referee challenge! The alternative is to let you call your own fouls and I already know that doesn't work!! There are some players that insist "I never touched him", even when there's blood evidence, who'll who will never call a foul on themselves. And there are some that will be slammed into the stage and say it was a clean play and not call a foul on the other guy.

9:20 PM Game   Crismon vs Remington Heights 

A rematch from one of last season's Semi-Final Games and it WAS A GAME!! We could have charged admission for the quality of this one!! Crismon squeaked it out again by one point in the closing seconds of the game. Marc (what was his last name?) from Remington Ward showed why he's the dominant player in our stake and it almost looked like he'd pull off the win on his own late in the game. But Crismon also had several excellent players and held on. (Sometimes literally.)

Because you asked and I'm such a nice guy: We are playing High School Rules which do not allow players on a Free-Throw to enter the lane until the shot hits the rim (that's assuming the shot will hit the rim, of course.) Everyone wants to think they're NBA and want to enter on the "release" by the shooter. "Ask and you shall receive "– as an experiment I'm going to say OK to that even though I'm concerned it's going to lead to a lot more pushing and shoving for position and elbows to the chin. We'll try it for a few nights to be sure you are all behaving yourselves. Don't mess it up!

Lost but found: A V-necked Diamondbacks long sleeved warm up shirt. Tell me what color it is & it's yours. If no one claims it after a couple weeks it's headed to DI. You can check with me after this Sunday Evening's Stake Conference Adult Session.

Schedule change coming: Got a notice the gym will be closed one week in May for floor refinishing so I need to make an adjustment to the schedule, so be watching for that.

Ladies Nites: A few Sistern have asked when they get to play basketball. Some are former High School Players, you see, who miss playing the sport. Even though I sometimes think I'm watching some Brethren play like women on our men's nites, (one player complained he had been poked by a "too long fingernail" Tuesday night) perhaps it's fair to give the ladies at least one night to organize and play? So, since these reports are passed by Present Bagley and High Counselor Arnson to President McClure, this will serve as my asking the Stake Presidency if they'll approve one night of Ladies Basketball this season. If I get permission I'll let you know. Until then it's no use asking me about it anymore because I ain't the Stake Relief Society President and I don't schedule women's sports.

2011 Men's Championship Games Report - Queen Creek North Stake

What a night!! Many thanks to Adam Sessions who volunteered to be the scorekeeper all night relieving teams of that chore. Adam is the fellow that recently came up to me following a Stake Training Meeting waving his smart phone in front of me with a copy of the most recent "Game Report" on the screen saying, "Are you this guy? You're a nut!" Adam is a retired basketball referee of some renown from California.

Also many Thanks to David Dixson, my High School Referee partner, who agreed to suspend his "no church ball refereeing" policy and work our Championship night games. I'm sure he regrets that decision by now…… After some ill tempered comments by a Cortina 3rd Warder in the final moments of and while in the throes of losing the Championship game. David commented to me between games that some of the brethren did not seem to like some of his foul calls. I told him not to worry about it, he was doing great because the brethren don't like MOST of my calls…

6:30 PM Game – Cortina 3rd vs Ironwood Crossing

Pregame I saw Brian Judy – he of the odd cross handed softball batting grip that gives me shivers up the spine when I see it – takes a run at the basket gripping kids size ball & dunks. Strictly speaking, dunking during pregame warm-ups is a Technical Foul. I asked Brian if he just dunked. He said yes, so I said, "let me see you do it again." He did and I said, "Brian, don't you know that dunking during pregame warm-ups is a Technical Foul? I'm gonna have to light your team up for a "T" and start the game with Cortina 3rd shooting Free Throws and be awarded the ball to In-bound." There was an awkward moment of silence as Brian furtively looked back and forth from my grim countenance to his teammates trying to decide if I was serious. Finally I said I wasn't going to enforce the "T", just no more dunking.

For some reason that reminds me of another pre-game exchange a couple nights ago. Someone was talking to me as we were trying to start a game. Brad "The Hack" (a play at words on how he plays) Hekekiah of the Rittenhouse Ward (I think?) Hollers, "Come on, Vic. We've got a dollar waiting on a dime!" Frankly I was surprised Brad has such a low personal self-esteem value. I figured him at least to be a "two bit player "…

Both teams broke out in a "run and gun "offensive mindset. Perhaps I should say Cortina 3rd offense was run and "GUNN "as Matt Gunn took the EVERY 3 point shot opportunity he had and never stop firing them up!

Even without the leadership of Jon Mott, Ironwood Crossing was pounding the ball into the key and looking as if they had an offense scheme to execute. Both teams were tossing up and making 3 point shot from all over the place.

There's more I could say about this game, but in deference to Matt Gunns quip about my "lengthy" reports I will not recount his exploits any further.

Jon Mott's 4 points per game scoring average for Ironwood Crossing might have made the difference in the games outcome. Cortina 3rd wins 68 to 65.

7:30 PM – Crismon vs Remington Heights

This game was as good as I thought it might be……

I was figuring it might be a long night for Crismon as they were missing Jared Wright, a former PGA aspirant (that's Professional Golf Association for the Sisteren). Jared is as good at ramming in 18' Jumpshot as he is at snaking in 18' putts on a 13 Stimpmeter Rated Green. (For the Sisteren – and the non-golfing Brethren – the Stimpmeter measures the speed the putt will roll roll across a putting green. Anything 9 & above on the Stimpmeter is considered a very fast putting surface even for the PGA. Almost like putting on a wood floor the ball rolls so fast!

But Jared's absence was offset by the "the Rotund One" not making it to the game for the Remington Heights to slash & mash on his legendary drives to the basket.

I thought the difference maker was going to be Marc McDowell of Remington Heights. Marc played collegiately at Pepperdine – although with that beautiful Pacific Ocean view from the campus I don't know how much playing time he got in. Enough, though, to play 1 year of Professional Basketball after college in France. Oui, oui!!

Lots of shot attempts in this game. I'm starting to think some of the brethren have a strategy that they'll throw up any crazy shot and count on their teammates getting the rebound to score an easy put back shot. That could work when you have got Marc McDowell to rebound. Some of those crazy shots actually go in and you know the shooter was as surprise as everyone else by the Cheshire Cat smiles on their face as the run to the other end of the court to go on defense.

One fellow who's shots were no accident was some Farabee kid from Remington Heights. He'll be on Highlands Varsity team this year, I think. Prior to the game his dad commented his son had a State Championship Diving Meet the next day and was hopeful he'd be the State Champ on the 1 meter board. I asked what in the world he was doing playing church basketball risking injury the night before a State Dive Meet!! Where was his mom?? Apparently his mom told him not to play, but you know how teenage boys and their dad can be and he played anyway. Technically, since he is not 18, he should not have played anyway. At the center circle before administering the jump ball to start the game I pointed that out to Crismon and asked if they were OK with his playing. The boys from Crismon opined they could beat anyone any ward wanted to throw at them and said to let the skinny kid play!

Brent Slade, who at 34 years old, who found it more than a small challenge keeping up with a quick and big hopping teenager as he drew the assignment to guard Farabee, wished the kid had listened to his mom! Brent was all tuckered out by Half-Time. Old age is coming at you faster than you think, Brent. Just ask Jason Filley. Get used to it!

I was tired, too…… At half time I heard Adam Sessions say something about the score was 34–28 and then asked for the score sheet for the next game. So I thought the 7:30 PM game was over and that 34–28 was an awfully low scoring game!! Low for a game end score yes, but pretty high powered for a half time score!!

For the record…… If Mark McDowell is behind you as you are trying to get a rebound and suddenly the ball is lifted out of your hands – it is not an Over The Back Foul. It is either you are too short for you have no hops and Mark just snapped the ball in a clean way. As coaches say, "you can't coach height. You have it or you don't” Marc has it.

This game was intense.

Are the referee calls always right? No. As I write this a World Series umpire just called a guy safe at 1st base that was out by half a step. Only the "best of the best" umpires get to work for a World Series game, yet the call was missed! Either this year a major league umpire called a guy safe that was out that would have been the 3rd out in the 9th inning of what would have been a rare "perfect game" for the pitcher. Ouch!!

College and Pro's even use replay technology to get close calls right. Unfortunately our Stake doesn't even have a working scoreboard much less replay technology to help us out.

So, no, try as we might, us referee types do not always make the right call. But does that justify players and fans ragging on the referees?

We had 23 fouls called on Remington Heights and only 12 on Crismon. I can't explain that but I assure everyone there was no bias in making the calls. That's just the way David I saw the game… To Remington players credit we did not hear any bellyaching out of them. They play hard. They lost the game but not their tempers. Good for them!!

Crismon won the game 61-60 in no small part due to MADE free throws. It was a great game!!

Championship Game

Crismon Ward Bishop Strebeck strolled in just before Game Time with his suit on. I suggested his team was all tuckered out and needed him to go suit up. He said he would except he didn't want to "show up" his younger players. I don't know if he'd have shown them up, as it has been a long time since he played high school ball, but he certainly would have been the most accurate Two Hand Set Shot and Two Handed Underhand Flip Free Throw Shooter on the floor………… Also the only one!

Cortina 3rd had been sitting for an hour waiting to play, so rigor mortise or lactic acid had started to settle in there. Crismon, especially Brent Slade from guarding that Farabee kid, was all worn out from there overtime game. David Dixon and I had just worked two hours of basketball and we were tired,… But the game needed to be played to crown our inaugural Stake Basketball Champion.

Suddenly everyone that had been launching 25 footer "nothing but net "shots were coming up short. Seems a few legs had turned to rubber and there were no more hop in their hoppers!

As the shots got shorter, some tempers got longer.

We had a glitch in the game in the 2nd Half when someone on the Cortina 3rd Ward bench asked me how many timeouts they have left. Understand, each team knew they got one time out and it's not the referees job to keep track of Time-Outs. It's the teams responsibility… And how tough is it to count to one? Any finger can handle that task, can't it! Anyway, while I was trying to communicate with Adam Sessions to find out if Cortina 3rd had do use there ONE Time Out that half yet, David Dixon did not realize what I was doing and let Crismon inbound the ball. Cortina 3rd Ward stole the ball and scored a lay up.

I blew my whistle and cancel the play, much to the displeasure of some Cortina 3rd Warders. Hey, if those 3rd Ward boys could count to ONE they wouldn't have had to ask me how many timeouts they had left & that basket would have counted. It wouldn't have been the game winner for them , anyway. Crismon held on to win 55-49 victory.

If it's Not a Real Game We're Going Out to Eat! - QCNS Men's Basketball Tournament 10.6.11

Brethren,

We play WEDNESDAY October 12th.

Maybe it's because no one gets in to clean the place up following Sunday Go To Meeting, but that Men's bathroom on the west side is rather putrid on game nites......

Phil Knight must really love our Stake. I think half the guys that show up are wearing Nike shoes and / or apparel.

Image by Mister Leung via Flickr

6:00 PM Vineyard VS Crismon- As anticipated, Vineyard was a NO SHOW, again, and Crismon advances. Crismon had five guys at the game time and everyone of them was a player. They may be the home team to beat the state champions! One of the Crismon wives came to watch the game. Then when she discovered it was a forfeit and the kids had not been fed, as she thought her husband was going to do before he came to the game…… She gathered up the kids and hollered over her shoulder as she walked out, “If it's not a real game we're going out to eat!”

7:00 PM Cortina 1st VS Cortina 2nd – Evidently the Cortina 1st Ward team manager miss read (or did not read) last week's E-mail about changing their game from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM and announce the 6:00 PM as game-time. Didn't matter much as only three Cortina 1st warders showed up for the 6 PM game.

One left and one more showed up so they still only have three players for the 7:00 PM p.m. game and were eliminated by forfeit. Now I have to show up in my home Cortina 2nd Ward and face the cat calls for having predicted Cortina 1st would win the game……

One of the wives had set up camp with her kids on the stage. Suddenly she waved for her husband to come from the far end of the court where his team was warming up for an urgent question. "Are you going to be playing at that end of the court all game? We won't be able to see you!”

"No dear, we'll play at both ends." Was his comforting response (I just report the stuff, I don't try to explain!)

(Good thing Cortina 1st were shorthanded and had to forfeit. The Desert Mountain Young Women thought they had the court reserved for a Young Man/ Young Women activity. The poor Desert Mountain Bishop came over to ask if we were in the tournament play that night. He was hoping it was just a regular play so that game could be canceled and allowed the YW/YM activity to take place. (I suspect he did not want to face the wrath of a Sistern burned by the men's sports……). Plop plop, fizz, fizz, what a relief it was when I said it was a Tournament Game but a forfeit game and the YW/YM could use the court until 8:00 PM. The Young Women's President graciously suggested we just pulled the curtain across half court so the YW/YM could use one half and we could play a half-court game at the other end.

8:00 PM Ironwood VS Remington Heights – With Remington Heights "towering above the rim playing" Mark McDowell absent I thought it would prove their demise and said as much prior to the game start time. A Remington Heights player said they'd get fewer defensive rebounds but it wouldn't affect their scoring. You best be ready to back it up if you're going to talk big folks. Ironwood pumped out 53 points. Remington Heights only manage 82...... Who needs Mark McDowell, anyway……

Dear Brother Pear - QCNS Men's B-Ball 10.3.11

Brethren,

A couple of brethren have contacted me asking when they play next.

I sent an E-mail last Thursday with the complete Tournament Schedule. Please forward it on to all those Ward members that you want to know about the games.....(Of course it is possible some of the Brethren that contacted me about not being informed about games time are fellows their ward teammates would rather not show up. Can't say for sure about that!!)

Remember: One Referee and One Scorekeeper from each ward.

Bring a WHITE and DARK colored shirt. (Gray is NOT a dark color)

Yes, I gave the 3 Cortina Wards the preferred Game time slots. Get over it. I gots to show up in that building there every Sunday & take all their harassment as it is, so I gave them some prime first time game times.

Photo by Your Best Digs

If anyone would like to be added to the e-mail list, just let me know.

If anyone wants off the list let me know that, too. I had an E-mail from a Sister last week the read: "Dear Brother Pear, As much as I enjoy reading about the exploits of the stake men's Basketball players, I don't enjoy it that much. Please take me off your E-mail List." I did, even tho I finally figured out her husband had been the one that gave me her E-mail address to send Stake B-Ball info to...... Hope he's getting his updates somewhere else these days!!

I also had a fellow say the length of my E-mails is clogging up his company's server. I told him he can ask to have his name taken off the list- he wouldn't be the first to make that request......OR, I suppose his cheap company can join the Tech Age and get a bigger server, couldn't it? Must be some rinky dink server as I see some guys reading me E-mails on their Cell Phones & IPads!

See you Thursday Nite!!

What Makes ME the Rule Expert? - QCNS Men's Basketball Report 9.29.2011

Brethren,

Our Stake 2011 Basketball Tournament Schedule is attached.

We begin play NEXT Thursday Nite, September 29th. Someone Please confirm this with Ladd Smith so he doesn't send me 23 e-mails asking which nite their Ward plays...

EVERY Ward is scheduled to play the first nite.

I DID schedule Nauvoo Station VS the "No Show" Vineyard to try & get those hapless fellows a win in front of any young sistern that mistakenly wander in expecting  to see some high level competition. If the game is a forfeit & the Nauvoo Station boys don't go overboard in the Pre-Game warm ups maybe they won't have worked up too big a stink & they can talk the lassies into a visit to Baskin Robbins after their victory....

All games will be 40 minute formats, as we have been playing all season, for the FIRST nite. All other nites will be 1 hour games, or until one team collapses from exhaustion. Which ever occurs first.

This is the same format we used for Softball. Each team will play at least 2 games. Beginning the 2nd nite of play it will be "Win or Go Home."

I've tried to line up some LDS High School Varsity Level Referees to help with our first 3 nites of Tournament games. No luck. The reputation of "LDS Church Ball" precedes you!! They've all seen & played "Church Ball" & don't want to go near Refereeing an LDS game. I tried in vain to convince them our Stake has good sportsmanship and respects Referee calls.

That means EACH TEAM (BOTH TEAMS for those of you who do not understand the concept of "each") need to provide ONE Referee and ONE ScoreKepper for their game OR work out an agreement with another Ward to Ref / Scorekeep each others games. It don't matter to me. Just so long as we have 2 of each. I will also help Referee, so we'll have 3 Referees per game. Unless Jon Mott from the Ironwood Ward, who never blows the whistle except to call Technical Fouls on Bench Personnel, tries to Referee. Then we'll have 2 Referees and a spectator in a Black & White striped shirt.

However. I have prevailed upon my High School Referee partner, David Dixson, to work the Semi Finals & Championship Game nite.

At our last nite of play a player asked me, in a not too kindly fashion, "Where'd YOU learn to Ref?!" That was after I'd given him a Warning for reaching his hand, arm & shoulder across the Inbounds Line on a Side Line Throw-In Play. (I could have asked him where he learned to play since he apparently did not know he was not allowed to reach across the Throw In Line.....).

I suppose the question is a fair one, tho, since I have been and will continue to Referee our Stake Tournament Games -so here it goes......

"Dream Shot" by Will Folsom

I learned to Referee in Arizona, beginning approximately 21 years ago, starting out in the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) Training Program. The AIA schedules the Referees for all regular season & tournament High School Games in AZ. That training included regular season High School games and many years of Summer Leagues and Summer Camps under the tutelage of Veteran AIA Officials, several Junior College & NCAA Officials and a couple of Arizona fellows that made it all the way up to the NBA. You start at the bottom working Freshman games, then Junior Varsity & finally Varsity level games IF the AIA thinks you are capable of that level. How do they decide that? The AIA conducts Referee Evaluations every season which consists of a in-person Observation by the AIA Official Evaluations at Games & Reports submitted by Coaches and Athletic Directors form the games we work. Varsity Officials submit Evaluations for Freshman & JV Officials that work the games prior to the Varsity game. From the collective Evaluations & Reports the AIA selects the Officials that will work the post season tournament games. Being assigned Post Season Tournament Games is the "icing on the cake" for a Referee. The ultimate honor for an AZ High School Ref is to be assigned a Semi Finals or Championship Game at the Glendale Arena. Since my first years as a Varsity Level Official I have worked at least 2 Post Season Tournament Games each year. Some times 3 or 4 Post Season Tournaments in a year. In the last 4 years David & I have worked 2 Semi Finals 3A Games at the Glendale Arena. Last year we were thrilled to be assigned the Girls 4A Championship Game at the arena. (Hey, I'm 59 years old. It's tough to keep up with the Varsity level boys today at the the pace they play. I can still keep up with the Girls and Stake Men's B-Ball pace of play, tho...).

Because I've worked Semi Finals & Championship Games does that mean I think I'm the best Referee ever? No. Does it mean I don't think I can't "boot a call" once in a while? Nope. No Referee has ever worked a perfect game. At least not in Basketball as there are too many variables and so many perspectives to view each play from. Hopefully your individual Refereeing experiences has helped you see the game from a different perspective?

David is a better Referee than I am. He worked major High School Boys Varsity games in California prior to moving to AZ. David also worked at the AZ Junior College Basketball level. I have not worked at the Junior College Level. I did not start my referee avocation until I was 38 years old. The Junior College level want to bring up Officials with several years of High School Varsity Experience that are still in their 20's to early 30's, not rookie Refs. By the time I had a few years of Varsity Level experience I was well beyond the age at the Junior College want to start breaking in new Officials. Too bad for me.

Since David and I will work the Semi Finals & Championship Games the Wards playing will NOT be asked to provide a Referee. However, they WILL be required to provide 1 Score Keeper each.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING WHITE AND DARK COLORED SHIRTS so no ones has to be the 2nd person to wear those stunk up pull over shirts I bring......

See you Thursday nite in you bets B-Ball attire & bring your "A" Game!!

Vic Pear

It's Not The Spirit That Constrains Me, It's My Wife - Men's Basketball Report QCNS 8/31/11

Intrepid Brethren of the Hardwoods,

A fellow commented to me that he thought my weekly reports were amusing but they were a bit verbose......I can only respond that I feel as the Book of Mormon writers who said they were "constrained by the spirit" and could only include 100th of the things that happened. Actually it's not the spirit that constrains me, it's my wife, Kim who reads my missives before I send them out who says, "You're not really going to say that, are you? Sometimes I listen and am constrained. Other times......BUT I still can only include the 100th part of the stuff that happens each week.

Here's my Report-

It's good that we pray before each game as most of those shots I see being thrown up don't have a prayer of going in.

Remember, we play defense with out feet- NOT our hips, knees, elbows, & hands. In verbally warning player not to stick his knee out he replied, "Vic, you see too much!" Yep he was guilty as warned!! So please demonstrate your defensive prowess by getting into proper positions and beating the Offensive player to the spot.

The Offensive Player with the ball cannot push off or jump into/onto the Defensive Player to create space to fire off a haphazard shot. You fellows that love to streak off on a Fast Break or drive to the lane remember that principle when you are bouncing off Defenders, who have legal guarding positions and are maintaining the Principle of Verticality, like a pinball. YOU initiated the contact, so there's NO foul on the Defense. Youse take youse chances when you blast into the pack like that and the chances of my calling a foul on the Defense are not good unless they whack you really hard!

The Principle of Verticality DOES allow a player to jump STRAIGHT up in the air. He is not required to keep one or Both feet on the floor.

I was pleased that many teams DID arrive with WHITE and DARK shirts. Now if we can define "Dark" as really dark (blue, black, ect)- not Gray & Pastel yellows) it would help. You think it doesn't matter, but when the Referee is looking in  swarm of players and seeing multiple colored shirts it's hard to tell if a player is being bumped by a team mate or a opponent. Wearing distinctive shirts makes Referee calls easier. (Yes, I'll consider "Doger Blue" or BYU sissy blue as sufficiently distinct to be a Dark Color. Texas Longhorn puke orange is still banned.)

I notice the supposed "best" Referees are still eschewing actually Refereeing during games and seem content to try to Referee as they play. I'm not play attention to any of their "helpful" suggestions during games. If you want to Referee, put the shirt on.

A big THANK YOU to those who have been volunteering to Referee. You're making good calls!

The hapless Nauvoo Station boys had a sizable cheering section at their game. Or was it a jeering section? Hard to tell with all the hilarity that goes along with watching Nauvoo Station antics. One of the Garlock boys scored a basket in front of the Sistern that the opposing team felt should have been called as a traveling. As Nauvoo Station was on the short end of an in process 70 - 32 drubbing by Cortina 3rd ward, I figured it was better to let the Travel go so he could "look good" for the ladies. Poor boy must be at least 26 years old by now and fully qualified as what J. Golden Kimball described as "Any man 26 year or older and not married is a menace to society." We've got to do something about enhancing his appeal to the marriage eligible sistern of the Stake so he can get married before they ordain him a High Priest to be with Brethren of similar age......so I let the Travel Violation go.....

"Holding a basketball" by Your Best Digs via Flickr

Matt (No last name listed) of the Cortina 2rd ward was the "High Scorer" of the night based on 2 criteria.

1. Someone from Cortina 3rd Ward kept individual scores and showed Matt as pouring in 24 points
2. No other team kept individual scores

Not only did Matt put on an impressive display of Offensive skills I'm guessing he also did not have time to do any Refereeing in his game or help keep score......then again, maybe he DID help keep score which explains his 24 points?

Jeff pumped in 15 points while Todd & Ned each netted 10 points in Cortina 3rd Ward's victory.

Cortina 1st Ward slipped by Desert Mountain 46 - 44 in a spirited game.

Ranch & Vineyard quit keeping score @ 28 - 14, or was that the FINAL score??!!

Ironwood Crossing smacked their arch rival Ironwood 55- 38. Jon Mott proved he can at least hit the back board on a 3 point attempt......can't say much else, but it does create rebounding opportunities for his teammates who all turn & race to the basket for the rebounding positions as soon as they see the gleam in his eye as he starts hin unorthodox shooting motion....

Remington heights 44 points fell just short of Rittenhouse which scored 47 points even tho Jeff Monson has yet to make an appearance for Rittenhouse Ward yet this season.

And the GAME OF THE NIGHT was Dark 60- White 56. That's all the team identification there was on the Score Sheet.

Bro Mortensen from one of the Cortina Wards managed to get his wife, Pres Smith's daughter, back to watch his game. She came the first night & hadn't been back since. Said something about the games being "mildly good entertainment" but not better then watching "What Not To Wear"......as she left the first nite!

And have you noticed Ladd Smith shows up in a different pair of shoes every week? ALL are blinding florescent/ neon colors. Ladd's wife says she is NOT responsible for his wardrobe or shoe selections......

We will take a 2 week break while the Stake YW play a Volleyball Tournament.

Our Tournament will commence Thursday September 29th. That should allow time for aches & pains to be soothed and a few player to return from Injured Reserve.

HOUSEKEEPING-

Teams playing the 6:00 PM game can help speed up the game start by pushing the chair racks off the Cultural Hall floor into the Overflow area as they arrive. Please push them way to the back so there is plenty of room for spectators, rowdy kids & NBA scouts to view games from the Overflow area.

Teams playing the 9:20 PM games could please push the chair racks back into the Cultural Hall near the stage after their game.

Proposed 2012 Schedule-

The Queen Creek Stake, which hosts the Softball Field HAS APPROVED our use of the field THURSDAY NITES August 16th- November 15 in 2012. We'll try to run B-Ball from Feb 28-June 12 in 2012. I'll be submitting that to the Stake this week.

Lost & Found-

A pair of Black, White & Red Nike shoes have not yet been claimed. IF they're yours please pick them up.

Each week B-Balls are being left at the gym. If you lost yours on the court, check the equipment room by the stage.

Blessed Us to Play Above Our Skill Level - Men's Basketball QCNS 9.8.11

The Stake Presidency needs to check on the Vineyard Ward ASAP. I think they have been translated. What other excuse could there be for them to have been a total NO SHOW AGAIN for the 2nd week in a row!!??

Vineyard isn't totally alone in the NO SHOW category. 4 of our 6 games had at least 1 team and some both teams shorted handed. You Brethren all promised me there would not be any trouble getting full teams if we could just get a Stake B-Ball program going......

The Winegars of Crismon Ward were all decked out in matching red shirts / blouses & blue denim shorts/ skirts to support their Ward Team. They were real cute!! Too bad not enough Crismon players showed up for an official game......

I'm guessing there will soon be some wedding announcements from the Nauvoo Station Ward as they also can't manage to get 5 players to show up for games. Them forlorn boys must be out wooing the lassies instead of playing B-Ball? One can only hope!!!

"Basketballs" by You Best Digs via Flickr

I didn't realize President Obama's Job Speech would attract such a large audience that nite......or maybe it was the Green Bay Packers VS New Orleans Saints NFL Opening Nite TV game that cut into participation......

After several scoring frenzied games of 60-70 points last week the most any team could manage Thursday was 49 points.

And while I'm thinking about scoring, I remind you of a previous admonition- if you ain't got your own scorekeeper to help keep score, don't complain about the score!! Again we had a team upset thinking that they had not been credited with some points. Again the shiners were the team that did not provide a scorekeeper....

In one game, as I was jogging down the side line Refereeing, a player yelled out, "Hey Vic. What's the score." I am not your scorekeeper! And of course that team did not provide their own score keeper, either......if knowing the score is important to you, then...... 

I occasionally see some incredible plays at out Stake Men's Basketball. Some are actually incredibly good......Scott Potter of Cortina 3rd Ward stole a bounce pass, then went to his knees to recover it. With Cortina 1st Ward defenders surrounding him Scott deftly flicked a behind the back pass, from his knees, to a team mate. Nice play!!

I'm pleased so many of you are bringing a White AND Dark shirt to the games. Please remind your Brethren of this policy as we still have some fellas in a single color and a few that think gray is a dark color. It ain't! I do wash those white pull over jerseys each week (coming home from games, the first thing I do when I come thru the garage into the laundry room is put the washer on HOT, add bleach and throw those stinky jerseys into the was!!) but it takes one game for them to get stunk back up and all yucky sweaty the next week. So please bring your own White & Dark shirts.

One obviously single fellow, tho not from Nauvoo Station, was wearing a shirt showing a man standing, arm stretched as if around a woman and an arrow pointing to the VACANT woman's spot with the caption "Ladies this could be you!" It's an appropriate warning......

For those fellows who like to display their "behind the Back Dribble Skills" I remind you the move is most impressive when YOU pick up the dribble rather than have the ball bounce to an opponent.

I never cease to be amused by the optimism and requests in prayers offered at pre-game......One player intoned, "Blessed us to play above our skill level." I have that same prayer in my heart for you Brethren every game nite, too. It's not being answered......

Prior to the Jump Ball a Nauvoo Station player asked his teammates, "What Defense are we playing?" I don't know why he bothered to ask- Nauvoo Station hasn't played any defense so far this season. Haven't played much offense either!

Our Score Board still is not working. Fortunately the Church Facilities folks did spend some money hardening the back boards against all the bricks being thrown up against it. Air balls do not harm, tho.

Brad Marineau, Cortina 2nd Ward, has not seen a 3 point opportunity he has not likes, or taken, in his life. If there was a line further back for a 4 point shot he's already taken it......Fortunately for Cortina 2nd Ward Brad throws up "Nothin' But Net"! No bricks or air balls for that guy!!

I'm happy to report there seem to be fewer complaints about Referee calls and more Brethren are taking turns doing the Refereeing!! As expected, most of the complaints that do arise still come from guys that play but won't Ref themselves. Anyone can complain. Takes some guts to put on the shirt and blow the whistle.

I also realize there are a great many rules some or many of you may not be aware of. One such rule came up Thursday nite. Have you notice when I hand the ball to the person doing the Throw In I usually say "Don't reach across the Inbound line," to the nearby defender? The defender is NOT allowed to reach across the Inbound Line. The first violation is a Warning. The 2nd violation by any member of the same team is a Technical Foul. Slap the Throw-In Person's hand or arm and that's a Technical Foul, too.

One of our Brethren that likes to Ref as he plays but does not Ref otherwise, reached WAY across the Inbound Line on an Inbounds play. I blew the whistle and reported a Warning. He looked at me like I was crazy!! It's a simple rule and a simple call to make. I suggested to him that I'd appreciate it if he's help do some Refereeing the next time he played while wearing the Black & White shirt.

I must give high marks for shot creativity. Not even Kobe Bryant has thought of some of the shots you Brethren have taken. And some of them have even gone in!! AMAZING!! Someone should be recording the games we we can submit to U-Tube.

"I got pushed!!" Is a common complaint. Yes, you did! Lots of times it's your own team mate trying to get the same rebound, too. Twice we had a player completely taken to the ground. On each instance the player on the ground's first glance (or was it glare?) was at the Referee. On their 2nd glance, seeing it was a teammate laying on top of them or under them, they were no longer peeved at the Ref for not calling a foul. (Which isn't to say they weren't peeved at their team mate for knocking them down).

One of our more spirited players is Derek Taylor from Ironwood Ward who plays with reckless abandon that often ends up in a wreck. Derek knows only one play, DRIVE THE LANE. With his long arms & sharp elbows oft times effectively clears a path as players move to avoid injury. In doing so he also manages to bump into every player between the top of the key and the hoop a least once. Since he is initiating those bumps he ain't getting a foul called. I was relieved to see him Thursday nite as last week he let with a bloody nose and some speculation he's broken it. Apparently not as he was stickin' it back into the fray again!

Sneaky Stuff- Many of you have been taught some sneaky stuff by coaches along the way. Some of it you figured out on your own, had it pulled on you & decided to include it in your repertoire of "moves" or saw someone else doing it. After 20+ years refereeing high school basketball I've seen pretty much all the sneaky stuff you can do, too! And I AM SEEING it in your games. Fortunately for you, when it does not affect the play, I let it go. Unfortunately for you, when it does affect the play I will call it and especially when we get to the Tournament in 2 weeks I will be calling it. Most of the sneaky stuff does not happen to the dribbler. It usually happens away from the ball handler, or "Off Ball" as Referee's refer to it. I love to pick up & call sneak "Off Ball" stuff. So does my High School Referee partner, who I hope will help Ref some of our Tournament games. 

Blocking Out- You MAY establish a position between an opponent and the basket. You may move laterally to maintain position. You may NOT reach your hands & arms behind you to hold the person from going around you. You also may NOT use your forearm, hip, elbow or ample posterior to move the other player out of their position. When you set up your "Blocking Out" position on the left side of the key and you end up on the right side of the key and your opponent is now out of bounds from your push, that is not "Blocking Out", it IS a foul. Brian Brooke of Cortina 1st Ward asked, "You mean everything my high school coach taught me about "Blocking Out" is wrong? Yep, Brian, that's pretty much the story.

Yougins Run Amok-It seems to me we managed to keep the kiddies from running thru the halls and thru out the church building Thursday nite!! Way to go Moms & Dads!! Now if we can just make sure you folks pay a quick visit to the Nursery Room to be sure any toys your wee ones got out to play with are put away many people would appreciate it. The kids of those who attend Ward meetings at the buildings already know where that Nursery Room is. The other kids following them in.

It would also be appreciated if the kids could help to stay off the court during games. It's a fearsome sight to see a little tyke trotting across the court near the basket as a fast Break opens up and starts to bear down on the little on.

I could understand the folks doing the watching being distracted momentarily by seeing good play, if there was more of it. If it's your kid that gets squashed don't ask me why I let it happen.

Lost & Found- 2 B-Balls & 1 pair of Black, Red & White Nike shoes are still unclaimed. I think I figured out why, tho- They are in such woeful shape I think the former owners reported them as stolen to their spouses so they could justify spending money on new equipment!!

TOURNAMENT: 

We take 2 weeks off to allow the Stake Young Women to conduct a Volleyball Tournament. That will allow some time for aches & bruises to heal. Also gives Nauvoo Station time to come up with some sort of Defensive strategy.

 We will resume play with out Tournament on Thursday, September 29.

 We'll be playing 6 games the first nite and then I think we can go to 4 games of 1 hours each after that.

I'll send out the schedule shortly

I think I'll schedule the 6:00 PM Game with Vineyard VS Nauvoo Station and plan on another NO SHOW by Vineyard Ward so Nauvoo Station can claim at least once victory on then season....

Men's Basketball QCNS  9.8.11