The Georgia High School Association has ruled against a basketball team that has video evidence that its opponent was awarded two points it didn’t score in the second quarter of a semifinal game that went to overtime Saturday.
Social Circle’s boys team lost to Drew Charter 70-68 in the Class A Public semifinals at Valdosta State. Game video appeared to show Drew Charter getting two extra points in the second quarter. The second alleged extra point gave Drew a 28-11 lead when Drew had scored only 26.
The GHSA’s coordinator of officiating and basketball, Ernie Yarbrough, issued a statement early Monday afternoon saying that GHSA and National Federation of State High School Association rules, unlike those in college or professional sports, prohibit using in-game video to review or settle disputes.
“At all state tournament semifinal sites, the GHSA employed a neutral individual to be the official scorekeeper,” Yarbrough said in the statement. “When the question came up early in the second quarter, the GHSA site rep stated the contest officials followed proper protocol for a scoring discrepancy question and they ruled the official book correct. Again, video review is not allowed in high school games. The game played on through an overtime period, and the final score determined the outcome of the game. While the GHSA is certainly sympathetic with the Social Circle position, the game result cannot be overturned nor replayed, and the final score will stand as it is.”
Coaches who believe there has been a scoring error can appeal to game officials, who then should compare the official scorekeeper’s book to those of each team. In this case, according to the GHSA, the official book matched Drew Charter’s book. Social Circle’s book had Drew with two fewer points, but in effect, Social Circle was outvoted 2-1.
Social Circle coach Taylor Jackson, whose team entered the game 30-0, has been making his case on Twitter since the game ended, citing video of the game from NFHS Network.
“We attempted to reconcile the discrepancy both times but were bulldozed by both the GHSA scorer and the refs,” Jackson said in a tweet.
In a retweet, he posted video that shows a point added to Drew Charter’s total.
“You can count points and see that they scored 18 in second,” Jackson posted. “Should have gone from 15, at end of the first, to 33. Instead with two errors they gave 35. I tell table official I hope it is not a close game because y’all blew it.”
Social Circle rallied, and the official score after four quarters was 56-56, leading to overtime. Social Circle claims Drew Charter scored only 54 points in regulation.
It’s the fourth time in eight years that a GHSA playoff game might’ve had a different outcome were it not for an alleged scoring error.
In 2021, Jefferson’s lost 61-60 at Carver-Columbus in the Class 4A quarterfinals and contended that a scorekeeping error gave Carver an extra point. Jefferson’s coaches weren’t aware of a possible error until the game was over.
In 2017, Greater Atlanta Christian’s girls lost to Beach 56-47 in overtime. NFHS Network’s broadcast of the game verified that GAC was shorted a point in the third quarter.
A similar incident occurred during the 2015 tournament involving a boys game. Swainsboro, playing at home in the second round, defeated Holy Innocents’ 57-52 in overtime. Video revealed that the scorekeeper awarded Swainsboro a point on a missed free throw with about three minutes left in regulation.
Drew Charter will play Warren County for the Class A Public championship Wednesday in Macon.
Story edited to cite a fourth instance of an alleged scorekeeping error that might’ve changed the outcome of a playoff game over the past eight seasons.
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