Last Tuesday, Feb. 13, I had the misfortune to observe the varsity basketball game at Clear Lake High School between the Clear Lake varsity and the Upper Lake varsity.

From the beginning of the game, Upper Lake led Clear Lake in every respect. They outplayed Clear Lake; however, as the game progressed, and the coach and players on the Clear Lake team became concerned, the blatant bias of the referees came to play in order to assist Clear Lake. Numerous fouls were called on Upper Lake and yet the same type of foul and some very over-the-top physical play by Clear Lake went unnoticed by the referees.

This is not sour grapes. Anyone attending the game, supporters for Upper Lake and Clear Lake, realized something not kosher was going on.

As the game progressed and went into the fourth quarter and then into overtime, fouls were called on Upper Lake and still - few called on Clear Lake.

Clear Lake won the game by one point. Clearly this was a tough fought game, however, Clear Lake, obviously to all who attended, was assisted by the biased refereeing. This is not to take anything away from the Clear Lake players.

My concern is that our high school athletes work very hard to compete in various athletics. Our students believe, as they should, that officials refereeing games will remain neutral. This game was so blatantly biased on the part of the officials that those attending started booing. After the game the referees quickly left the court and the building - no wonder!

Athletes should be able to go into a game expecting a win, and if that doesn't occur, then in a loss they will know they lost fairly. This was anything but a fair loss.

These two officials should hang their heads in shame and should not be allowed to officiate in this county every again.

R. Foley

Lakeport

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