Manasquan High School's petition to overturn Camden's win in New Jersey basketball playoffs denied

NEW JERSEY -- The New Jersey Department of Education's acting commissioner denied Manasquan High School's petition to reverse Camden High School's controversial win in the basketball state playoffs on Friday. 

Manasquan appeared to score a game-winning basket at the buzzer in the NJSIAA Group 2 boy's basketball semifinals on Tuesday.

The referees counted the basket initially, then incorrectly waved it off and Camden won 46-45. 

Friday, the Department of Education wrote in its decision not to reverse the call:

The Commissioner cannot find that the officials' decision regarding the basket was anything other than a judgment call, and the NJSIAA rules clearly state that once an official has made a judgement call, no appeals will be honored. Even if the officials' decision was not correct, under the clear and explicit bylaws of the NJSIAA, it is not reviewable. The NJSIAA's bylaws are adopted as controlling policy by boards of education when they elect to join the NJSIAA, which is a fully voluntary organization. N.J.S.A. 18A:11-13. Therefore, Manasquan – and every other member district – is aware that game officials will make judgment calls and applications of rule which cannot be challenged on the basis of error, and that there is no allowance for exception, even in the case of those errors which are deemed egregious by the affected party. Bd. of Educ. of the Twp. of Hazlet, Monmouth Co. v. NJSIAA, Commissioner Decision No. 399-94E (decided Dec. 3, 1999).

Accordingly, the Commissioner finds that the officials' decision is not reviewable, and the NJSIAA's determination not to honor Manasquan's protest was consistent with its own bylaws. The motion for emergent relief is denied, and the petition of appeal is hereby dismissed.  

A lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Manasquan boy's basketball team to stop the state championship game from being played Saturday, but a New Jersey Superior Court judge ruled against the team. 

Manasquan Superintendent Dr. Frank Kasyan said the district is filing a last-minute appeal, but he's not optimistic. 

"There is always hope that the appellate division will put a stay order on the game tomorrow, but I don't anticipate that happening. But there is always a chance," said Kasyan.

Late Friday, the state superior court's appellate division rejected the motion.

Kasyan said the district accepts the boys' team won't be going to the state championship and is now focused on the girls' basketball team, which will play for a state title Saturday. 

"Unfortunately, because of what transpired, it's only our girls and I want to wish them the best tomorrow because the community is 100% behind them, and I will be there to cheer them on," said Kasyan, who also wished the Camden team the best of luck. 

Video evidence shows Griffin Linstra's put-back off an offensive rebound clearly was released in time, and that Manasquan should have won 47-46 vs. Camden. 

"I sent one of our coaches a picture of it because it actually says at the bottom, I put final score, and I put 47-46, and then I got up and started cheering. Just never had time to change it after that," said Rylie Eldridge, the team statistician. 

Other Manasquan students said members of the team are heartbroken. 

"If the right call was made right away, it would be settled. But now it's just such a deep hole, deep rabbit hole you have to get into," said Jeff Moggs.

"I find it sad because the boys worked really hard to get where they are today, and they deserved it a lot," said cheerleader Andy Meier. 

"People can decide for themselves. This is just, we got absolutely robbed. We should be playing tomorrow," said Nick Bounassi.

Watch Christine Sloan's report

The call is igniting controversy.

"You just robbed those kids of a core memory that they're going to miss out for life," Denville resident Luca Cardone said.

"Clearly it looked like Mansquan clearly had the shot in on time," Tenafly resident Nichole Osborne said.

"I think Camden should have won, and they did win," Vorhees resident Derick Young said.

"It is what it is. That's sports," Kinnelon resident Gianni Caterino said.

"I feel like in this particular case, they should change the rules because it's just so blatant. It just looks bad," Berkeley Heights resident Hesheem Zidan said.

Camden is scheduled to play Arts High School of Newark for the state championship on Saturday at 12 p.m. at Rutgers University.