High School Basketball Team Has Appeal Over Botched Buzzer Beater Denied, Responds With Lawsuit

Manasquan High School has had its appeal regarding its wrongfully disallowed buzzer-beater in the New Jersey High School Basketball State Championship semifinals disallowed, but isn't calling it quits in its fight for justice. The Manasquan Board of Education has retained a law firm and is set to take legal action against the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).

Manasquan had its berth into the State Championship finals ripped away by officials on Tuesday night in its 46-45 loss to Camden, a powerhouse program in the area.

The controversy unfolded with just under six seconds left in regulation after Camden hit two free throws to take a 46-45 lead. A Manasquan player threw up a tough three-point attempt that caught the front end of the rim, but the ball fell directly to teammate Griffin Linstra who scored the put-back tip to give his team the win at the buzzer.

There is overwhelming video evidence that Griffin got his shot away with around 0.5 seconds remaining on the clock, but as Manasquan players and fans rushed the floor in celebration, the referees assembled and concluded that the basket should not count and robbed Manasquan of the victory.

The NJSIAA issued a statement the day after the egregious call admitting that the officials concluded that the buzzer beater should have counted, but there was nothing it could do to overturn the missed call.

"One of the three officials counted the basket as beating the buzzer. 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," the statement read in part.

"That said, the rules are clear -- once game officials leave the "visual confines of the playing court," the game is concluded, and the score is official. So, while the officiating crews’ reports indicate that a post-game review of footage of the play in question convinced them that the basket should have counted, the results could not then and cannot now be changed."

In response to NJSIAA's long-winded excuse and denying the appeal, Manasquan turned things over to its school board attorney.

"I don’t know what can happen, that is why I turned it over to Michael Gross, our school board attorney," Manasquan Superintendent Dr. Frank Kasyan told the Asbury Park Press. "I would like to see him get an injunction from the court to stop the games until our protest is heard, because a lot of time what happens is you’ll protest, it drags on and then it becomes a moot point. So the game is Saturday. This has to happen quickly and he’s on it."

The Clark Law Firm has stepped up to the plate and announced it has filed a pro bono action on behalf of the Manasquan High School basketball team.

Given the unique status of the situation and suit, the legal action's first order of business appears to be putting a pause on the State Championship game between Camden and Arts High School scheduled for March 9.

"The legal action seeks to temporarily enjoin the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association ("NJSIAA") from conducting the Boy’s Varsity Group 2 State Championship Game currently scheduled to take place this Saturday, March 9, 2024, between Camden High School and Arts High School (Newark), until the New Jersey Superior Court, Chancery Division has a chance to pass on the issue."

Attorney Gerald Clark bluntly stated, "The  NJSIAA should follow its own rules under these circumstances and declare Manasquan the rightful winner."