Pike Shows Their Dominance a Feisty Game, Defeating Sigma Chi 54-40

In a highly contested inter- fraternity basketball game last week, Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) defeated Sigma Chi Kappa, with both teams drawing an unprecedented 11 technical fouls.

Before the game even began, the Anteater Recreation Center was filled with a plethora of thunderous roars that could be heard from outside of the facility. Once inside, those same roars could be felt as 77 students and fraternity members of Pike and Sigma Chi urged on their respective basketball teams.

5 minutes before tip-off (The official start time of the game), the two officials for the game huddled in the center of the court along with the team’s captains, discussing protocol for keeping order of a game of this magnitude. Technical fouls (unsportsmanlike conduct fouls that are more serious than a common personal foul) were one particular area that the officials brought up to both teams. These fouls would be utilized early and often by both officials as tempers flared from both Pike and Sigma Chi players.

Sigma Chi struggled mightily to score from the floor to start the game, missing 8 of their first 11 shot attempts. After a heavily contested drive to the basket led to their fifth turnover of the game, a Sigma Chi player clapped his hands in frustration while glaring and yelling at Referee Kasim Manekia, which led to the first of many technical fouls being given in this game. Only 7 minutes into the game, a technical foul had been assessed.

After Pike’s point guard, referred to as Lou, hit the technical free throw, the score was now 20 to 7. At this point, Sigma Chi seemed to build off of their teammates’ earlier display of passion and outrage and responded with a 7-0 run to cut Pike’s lead down to 6. Now it was Pike’s turn to show their own frustration. After another contested Sigma Chi layup, the second referee Jesus Diaz called a foul on Pike’s center James Douglas. His entire team yelled in outrage, some of the players stepping onto the court in order to let Diaz know their frustrations with the call. Referee Diaz did not take too kindly to their outbursts as he gave out his first technical, the second one of the half.

Diaz and Manekia both handed out two more technical in the first half, one for Sigma Chi’s crowd stepping onto the court, and another for Pike’s Douglas pushing a Sigma Chi player after an altercation over a rebound.

“As an official, we have to keep control of the game. When players or fans lash out like that in a way that stops the game from being played smoothly, then we have to give out technical fouls. It just so happened that we had to give out much more than usual tonight”, said Diaz after the game. Diaz gave out 7 of the 11 technical fouls.

While the standing crowd was loud for a vast majority of the game, audible gasps and yells could be heard on one play in particular that even caused the referees to shake their heads in amazement. With three minutes left to play in the first half, Pike player Steven Watkins missed on a jumper, but their center Douglas came in flying as he slammed down the put back in a ferocious manner that fueled a 10-2 run to keep Pike ahead at the end of the half, 30-16.

“We weren’t playing our best basketball up to that point. I told myself we needed to make our push now and I’m glad I was able to do that.” Douglas said during halftime.

The second half increased in physicality, as Sigma Chi once again, fought back after a lackluster start. After draining 3 straight 3-pointers, Pike gained another technical foul for yelling at the official. Moments later, another one was given for Pike’s fans stepping on the court for a second time. After going 2-4 from the free throw line, followed by a couple of lay-ups and defensive stops, Sigma Chi was back into the game with the score cut down to a 42-38 deficit.

That was the closest the game would get, as Pike showed why they were undefeated for the season coming into this game. “We felt as though we were the better team. No disrespect to Sigma Chi, but felt like the game shouldn’t have even been that close” said Watkins after the game, as Pike ended the game on a 12-2 run, highlighted by 3 amazing dunks in transition.

Pike (5-0) goes on to meet Phi Si on Wednesday for their last game of the regular season. Sigma Chi (3-2) has a week off before they will meet their assigned matchup for the first round of the playoffs. IFC Playoff brackets will be posted online by Saturday Evening.

Q & A: Referee Jesus Diaz

Q: Is it normal to give out 11 technical fouls over the course of one Intramural Basketball game?

A: As an official, we have to keep control of the game. When players or fans lash out like that in a way that stops the game from being played smoothly, then we have to give out technical fouls. It just so happened that we had to give out much more than usual tonight.

Q: The intensity of this game was off the charts and the technical fouls were a direct result of that. However, many players might object to the way this game was officiated. How do you respond to that?

A: We had to control the game. Every basketball game presents a different challenge, but the rules are the same nonetheless. It is our job to regulate the game in a way that makes it safe and enjoyable for everyone involved. If someone breaks those rules then we have to respond the way that we have been taught.

Q: I can only imagine how intense the playoff games are going to be. What adjustments do you guys, as refs, have to make in order regulate those games?

A: The core fundamentals of officiating are still what we will go by. What will change, though, is that we will be having 3 referees officiating each game instead of 2. This method allows for us to catch more things on the court that 2 officials just can’t catch. A lot of things happen off-ball and three refs should be able to catch as much as possible.

Q: Won’t that be a disadvantage for you guys though? Seeing as how you guys have been running a 2-man system all season?

A: The 3-man system is pretty much the same thing. Except for with 1 extra referee. The best refs from the regular season will be on duty for these games and they will be capable of doing a great job.