Check-in controversy ices shooter in Skyhawks’ OT loss to Gators

Friday, Feb. 4, 2005 | 9:44 a.m.

Silverado coach Rob Pisano was still fuming a half-hour after an overtime dispute that might have cost his team a chance to tie division-leading Green Valley.

Pisano was upset at a delay while officials and coaches discussed whether Jeremy Pate checked in at the scorer's table in between two free-throw attempts by the Skyhawks' Chad Robinson.

Robinson hit the first free throw before the delay - he missed the second and the Gators hit three free throws for an 84-80 victory.

"They call a timeout, we walk on the floor. Chad shoots the first free throw. (Green Valley coach Adam) Patai said the guy I subbed in didn't check in," Pisano said. "The lady at the scorer's table bought it, and there was a five-minute (delay)."

Patai said the scorer, Silverado athletic director Yvonne Arguello, agreed that Pate did not check in. Pisano argued that he saw Pate tap the table at the conclusion of the timeout.

As that debate went on, Pisano also became frustrated that Robinson could not attempt his second free throw.

"They should have let Chad shoot the second shot immediately, and we could be going to double-overtime with two seconds on the clock," he said. "Instead they call a T, and Chad missed the second free throw."

Patai had a different opinion.

"The first free throw shouldn't have counted," he said. "They shot with an illegal player on the floor."

The late-game argument overshadowed what had been a great effort by Silverado, trying to clinch a second seed in this month's Sunrise Region playoffs. The Skyhawks overcame a 10-point third quarter deficit and were behind 52-38 in the fourth before pulling even to go to overtime. Joe Foster had 20 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, and Heiden Ratner finished with 26 points in the game.

Billy White had 32 points and Jordan Regan added 20 as the Gators clinched the top seed in the Southeast Division.

"We'd go up 15, they'd come back, we'd get it to 10, they'd get it to six," Patai said. "I don't think we played very badly, they just made a run when they had to. They played really well, and we played OK."

"We got up by 14, but we couldn't close out the way we normally do," Rancho coach Melvin Shivers said.

Rancho pulled into a tie with Canyon Springs for second place in the Northeast Division. Valley has already clinched first place.

Ariece Perkins and Kaylone Riley each had 20 points to lead the Rams, with Riley adding 12 rebounds and five blocks.

"He's finally waking up," Shivers said. "Some scouts are finally coming around. I'm not saying he's the best player in town, but he's got the most upside in town being 6-9. He's finally coming of age."

Despite the loss, Eldorado clinched the final playoff spot in the Northeast.

Coronado is now tied with Silverado for second place in the Southeast Division.

Tysson Poots added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Cougars. Scoring information for Basic was unavailable.

Aaron Franklin had 15 points for the Wildcats.

Jason West had 15 points for the Jaguars, who were eliminated from theplayoffs.

Scoring information was unavailable.