3 is a crowd on Maine’s hoop courts

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Three-official games have been the law of the high school basketball land this postseason, but exactly how many people are sold on the concept is up for debate.

Reasoning that if three officials would do the tournament games, teams also should see them in the regular season, a number of athletic directors scheduled the expanded crews through the 18-game season.

That was a good decision.

But what has the three-man crews brought to the game itself?

Some coaches will argue that their teams are getting three times as many fouls.

And that could be part of the inherent problem.

Referees are judges. They are here to uphold the rules made by others. The men and women may not even like the particular laws they are enforcing but it’s their specific job to enforce all the rules.

But the three-man crews may be a case of overkill.

Let’s face it, fans, coaches and players probably don’t want every foul called because the flow of play would be non-existent.

That is the game’s charm. The pace, the tempo, the turning points are what keep the players training, coaches diagraming and fans paying.

We’ve all seen a lot of ticky-tack foul calls made with the three-man crews, and we probably believe that they wouldn’t be made with just two people.

Three officials are a great insurance policy against making the wrong call, although mistakes will always be made because we’re still human. But there is still a need to guarantee the game’s flow.

– Katrina Veeder, BDN

I recently attended the girls high school basketball tournaments as a Mount View fan, where I had a few words with another so-called “fan” over the job coach Charlie Wing did. Now, I may be biased as he is my father-in-law, but to my understanding the coaches cannot go out on the floor and play the game for the girls.

I’m sorry people, but wake up, he can tell the girls what he wants them to do and from there it is up to the girls to win or lose the game. And I am not downing the girls as I feel they did a wonderful job, the ball just would not fall into the net.

I just don’t understand what people have to complain about, just look at their record. I think they had a very good season and that the girls and coaches both should be praised highly.

– Mary Wing, Dover-Foxcroft

I have to say I was really disappointed with the Eastern Maine girls All-Tournament selections as well as the All-Conference selections in Class B. I do not intend to diminish the accomplishments of any of the girls chosen, but as a Lady Bucks fan I think it was unconscionable that Bucksport’s Kara Henderson did not get more recognition.

Without Kara the Lady Bucks would not have even made the tourament. She was responsible for winning a number of regular season games. She was responsible for turning around the quarterfinal game with Winslow. Kara also kept the Lady Bucks in the semifinal game with MDI.

If there was a Peoples Choice Award, my vote would go to Kara. Not only because of her unparalled skill but because through all she endured this season she kept on smiling and always gave 100 percent when she was called upon.

– Gerri Martino, Surry

University of Maine coach Joanne Palombo-McCallie probably isn’t the most popular coach right now among her peers in the America East.

Two weeks ago, Delaware coach Tina Martin was upset with Palombo’s Bears pressing when Maine had a comfortable margin. Then, on Sunday, Towson State coach Ellen Fitzkee delivered a “no comment” when asked if she thought Maine’s Cindy Blodgett should have been left in the game to break a scoring record in another lopsided Maine victory.

Martin and Fitzkee need a reality check. Palombo is making the right decisions concerning her team, especially the one to let Blodgett remain in the game and make the assault on the record books. It’s difficult to believe that any other coach, given the same set of circumstances, would not let their player go for a record.

Palombo, unlike her peers, has a better understanding of NCAA Division I basketball. It’s competitive and intense. While coaches want their players to enjoy the experience, there is a businesslike atmosphere that can be stressful for coaches and players.

If Martin and Fitzkee can’t tolerate this atmosphere, then they would be wise to follow the advice of President Harry Truman: “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

Players like Blodgett, a rare combination of talent and tireless work ethic, are becoming more difficult to find. It’s unlikely Maine will produce another for many years. She should be given every opportunity to excel and women’s basketball fans should be given an equal chance to see as many minutes of her on the court as possible.

– Joe McLaughlin, BDN