RebKell's Junkie Boards

[Ballwinner]

I have witnessed countless basketball games in various roles on various levels; however, Wednesday night was the first time I had experienced such a glaringly poor example of officiating.

My beloved alma mater, Maryville University of St. Louis, has not lost a regular season game in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in the past three seasons. On Wednesday, the Saints traveled across town to play at the despised rival Webster University, who beat Maryville in last year's conference tournament.

The women of Maryville average a scoring margin of about +22 points; however, the game was tied at only 16-16 at the half. The reason? For the first thirteen minutes, they were playing with a men's ball. The error was finally caught when our captain received the ball at the free throw line and had a chance to check.

I thought it was an ironic way for one of the better NCAA DIII rivalries to "celebrate" National Girls & Women in Sports Day.

http://www.maryville.edu/campuslife/athletics/artTemplate.asp?artID=381

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There are good ships, and there are wood ships, the ships that sail the sea. But the most important ships for a viable WNBA future are ownerships, and that will always be.

[BBFan23]

I played with the "men's" ball my entire career (too old to have used the women's ball) and I don't think it is fair to blame the lack of scoring on the ball. There is hardly any difference between the two and most athletes will score just as easily with either ball. Heck, most of the women have probably used this ball many times during their youth. Hasn't it been only recently that the smaller ball has been used in international competition?

Heck, I would rather see the women use the larger ball in the WNBA instead of the cheap infusion they used last season. They would have had better success with the NBA ball.

[24duzitall]

bbf23. it is perfectly fair. the weight and size are different. i think the comment was was geared more towards the officials not picking up on the mistake than if players had or could play with that type of ball.

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RIP my sweet boy Indi...my grumpy old man Charlie...precious Oliver and my sweet girl Faith

[Queenie]

how in the everloving did everyone NOT notice the bigger, heavier ball? Ten players, plus subs, plus refs... WTF?

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Ardent believer in the separation of church and stadium.

[Kelli]