01-03-2025
Jenkins files protest over last-second clock issue, GHSA responds ‘outcome is final'
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — The Jenkins athletic director submitted an official complaint with the Georgia High School Association of what they believe is a clock discrepancy that occurred on the final play of regulation in the Girls Class AAA semifinal game against Cherokee Bluff on Feb. 28 at HPE Arena on the campus for Fort Valley State, Jenkins athletic director Anthony Welch said in a text message to a group of Savannah sports reporters and anchors.
Late in the ball game junior forward Taylor Young made a field goal with 3.3 seconds remaining in the contest. Then on the next play, Cherokee Bluff made a shot before the buzzer sounded.
In a video of the game from the NFHS Network, which streams several high school games throughout the country, the clock from the gamecast did not appear to start when the Cherokee Bluff player's hand touched the ball. However, the gamecast clock is not the official game clock. The scoreboard at the venue where the game is played is the official game clock. In this case HPE Arena. WSAV has not seen any video with the official game clock to see if it started at the correct time.
Per rule, when the game clock is at rest, it resumes when a player from either team makes contact with the ball.
Coach Welch forwarded a copy of the email sent to GHSA Executive Director Tim Scott. In the email Welch writes, 'I am emailing the above GHSA staff for the purpose of appealing the outcome of the GHSA Girls AAA State Semifinals game between Cherokee Bluff High School and Jenkins High School.
'We have evidence in the form of a video clip that the clock did not start when the ball touched the Cherokee Bluff player's hand with 3.3 seconds left in the game, the shot that the player scored on should have never been counted because the clock did not start when it touched her hand on the inbound play.'
Later in the email, he wrote the clock operator was 'negligent and not attentive,' which they believe cost the Lady Warriors a chance to play for the state title on Wednesday in Macon.
GHSA Executive Director Tim Scott responded citing GHSA constitution by-law 2.92 e and NFHS Rule 2-5.
'The National Federation prohibits the use of video tape to review an offical's decision,' Scott writes.
He goes on to say, 'The referee has the final say in correcting errors, including timing mistakes, if discovered in a reasonable timeframe. Once the game has officially ended and the officials leave the floor, the outcome is final, and no protest is allowed.'
He ended his email by congratulating Jenkins on a great season.
WSAV reached out to the GHSA to confirm that an email was sent. At the time this story was published, we had not gotten a response.
The Jenkins girls' basketball team had an historic season. They won a playoff game for the first time in program history and carried the success all the way to the state semifinals.
This story is ongoing. Stay with WSAV for continuous updates.
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