High school denied appeal to overturn game lost on blown call

New Jersey’s acting education commissioner has rejected an appeal from a high school that lost a state basketball tournament game when referees wrongly overturned a buzzer-beating basket.

Manasquan school officials had asked Kevin Dehmer to delay a state title game scheduled for today while it appeals its case in court, claiming it deserves to be in the game. But in a ruling issued Friday, Dehmer said Manasquan’s claims were “not reviewable,” citing the guidelines of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, which oversees scholastic sports.

Manasquan initially was declared the winner over Camden in Tuesday night’s Group 2 semifinal game, which was played on a neutral court. But the call was overturned after referees discussed the shot and concluded it came after the buzzer, giving Camden, a perennial powerhouse, a 46-45 win.

A review of multiple videos of the final seconds clearly showed the shot was in the air and was going into the basket when the final buzzer sounded, meaning it should have counted. The controversy quickly became a hot topic on national news programs, sports radio and TV shows.

The NJSIAA acknowledged Wednesday the referees made the wrong call but said it would not overturn Camden’s victory. Camden is scheduled to play Newark Tech for the title today.

In a statement, the agency said it understands Manasquan’s frustration but “the rules are clear — once game officials leave the ‘visual confines of the playing court,’ the game is concluded, and the score is official.”

The agency does not use instant replay.