Time to split the state?

Usually I go about the business of reporting the results of sporting events. I love to take photographs of the events I attend because I believe pictures enhance a story. Additionally, athletes — whether young or old — enjoy it when someone recognizes that they are playing their best for a team.

This year I have developed a fondness for the Anderson and West Valley high school’s girl’s basketball teams. I have scheduled as many home games as I could to photograph the teams.

The Anderson girls have especially touched my heart this year. As the season progressed, I enjoyed watching them play.

On Tuesday, March 4, Anderson’s Lady Cubs played the Crusaders from Modesto Christian High School in the first round of the state playoffs. Based on the season records of both teams, MaxPreps — a national clearinghouse for prep sports news and information — predicted that Modesto Christian would beat Anderson with a score of 59-52.

Watching the two teams on the court, it was evident that Modesto Christian played a “different” type of basketball than the Anderson girls usually see. The visitors proved to be a fast-paced team that was very physically aggressive, more like what one would expect at the college or semi-professional level.

Eventually, the Lady Cubs adjusted to the visiting team’s style of play, but there were a few elbows and grabs thrown into the mixing bowl. The results of the game could have been similar to what MaxPreps predicted or they could have proved the experts wrong, but only if the officiating had been different.

Playoff games use three officials while regular league play only uses two. The extra official should, at least theoretically, give both teams another set of eyes looking for infractions. In other words, they should see the more blatant fouls and any unsportsman-like conduct.

‘Woody’ Watkins from North Highlands, Rollin Trehearne from Lolita and Raymond Savorn from Rancho Cordova were the three officials for the Anderson-Modesto game.

However, many fouls were ignored during the game. So many, in fact, that fans started yelling from the stands, “Do your job.” At one point, one of the officials started to yell back, “Shut your mouth” and “Don’t you yell at me.”

Anderson girls showed a lot of class, especially when the Crusaders’ players hit them hard. The Cubs worked to overcome the Crusaders’ obvious on-court advantage, but I could also tell that the Lady Cubs were well coached by Jeff Osborn. They held their heads high and continued to play as a team. There was mutual admiration evident between coaches and Lady Cubs’ team members. The Modesto team knocked off the Anderson girls’ state final chances in a brutal 75-36 hit.

But the Anderson Lady Cubs’ have NOTHING to be ashamed of or embarrassed about in either their season or in the game against the Modesto Christian Crusaders. They are a real team and uphold the Big Blue traditions at Anderson Union High School with genuine class.

Is it time to divide California into North and South?