There was no controversy in this one.
The Camden boys basketball team routed Arts High School, 69-50, in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Group 2 final at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, N.J., on Saturday after widespread outrage that it was in the title game.
Manasquan High School, who had fought to be in the game after a buzzer-beater controversy, was in attendance at Rutgers on Saturday for the final and even gave Camden a standing applause after it won, according to multiple reports.
In the semifinals, Camden beat Manasquan after referees incorrectly ruled that Griffin Linstra’s last-second shot, which had given Manasquan a buzzer-beater win, left his hand after the buzzer.
The shot had originally been called good, but a New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association representative met with the referees on court, and they subsequently ruled that the basket was no good.
Replays showed that the ball had clearly left Linstra’s hand well before the buzzer.
There was an immediate uproar, and Manasquan tried to protest the game with the NJSIAA and then appealed it to the Department of Education and the Appellate Division, but all sides denied Manasquan’s appeals to have the game replayed or to be declared the outright winners.
“One of the three officials counted the basket as beating the buzzer,” the NJSIAA said in a statement after the incident. “The three officials then met at half court to confer. A second official saw the ball in the shooter’s hands when the buzzer sounded. The officials then [waved] off the basket. Later, after being shown video clips, the second official agreed the basket should have counted.”
Camden coach Maalik Wayns said after Saturday’s title clincher that he was proud of his team, but he understood why Manasquan was so hurt about not being there.
“My kids deserved what they did. We’re 30-2, won some tough games, won games out of state, beat a lot of tough teams. My kids deserve every bit of this,” Wayns said, according to NJ.com.
“I understand Manasquan’s pain. Before I was a coach, I played sports. All we can do is control what we control. I understand the frustration but I have no control over that. They’re a great program, great kids and I’m sure they have a great coach. My heart goes out to them. It was out of my control but best of luck to them going forward.”
Manasquan was a good sport Saturday, but the team certainly expressed their frustration in recent days.
“I still don’t know what happened,’’ Manasquan head coach Andrew Bilodeau previously told The Post’s Dan Martin. “I wish I could tell you. The basket was ruled good. It’s clear to see on the video. The place erupts. The official on site meets with the three officials. I don’t know what took place.
“They just said, ‘No basket, game over.’ ”
