Georgia high school says scoring error in semifinal kept them out of championship game

WALTON COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia boys’ basketball Class A Public state title was decided Wednesday afternoon.

But one school argues a scoring error in the semifinals cost its team one of the spots in the championship game.

Drew Charter defeated Social Circle High School, 70-66, in the semifinals over the weekend. The game went into overtime following a 56-56 tie at the end of regulation. The loss ended a perfect season for undefeated Social Circle.

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However, Social Circle said the game should not have gone into overtime because of a scoring error earlier in the game.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that video appeared to show a scorekeeper award Drew Charter two extra points in the second quarter that gave them a 28-11 lead instead of 26-11.

In a letter statement sent to Channel 2 Action News, Social Circle also claimed its scorebooks did not match up with the scorekeeper.

“SCHS administrators assert that when the books were initially compared, Drew Charter Academy’s scorebook matched Social Circle High School’s scorebook. When GHSA referees questioned the score on the board, the GHSA scorekeeper refused to acknowledge or resolve the discrepancy. Later in the game, the Drew Charter Academy’s book matched that of the GHSA scorekeeper,” the district said.

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Social Circle City Schools sent an appeal to the Georgia High School Association for the game to be replayed from the point of the scoring error or to be replayed completely.

The GHSA denied the request and ruled that proper protocol regarding video review was followed.

“Video review is not allowed during high school contests, nor following a completed game unless a fight situation occurred. By rule, once the game is played to completion and the final score is approved by the contest officials the game is over,” GHSA assistant executive director Ernie Yarbrough said.

Channel 2 Action News reached out to Drew Charter Academy, which confirmed the GHSA ruling it received.

“It is our understanding that the GHSA has reviewed the complaint and has ruled that the final score will stand,” head of school Peter McKnight said.

Meanwhile, Social Circle head coach Taylor Jackson has been voicing his frustrations about the outcome on his Twitter account. He tweeted a new letter addressing the controversy Wednesday.

“On March 6, 2022, I contacted GHSA, pleading our case. How we played and monitored the game the correct way. How we appealed when things were unfair. How every I was dotted and every T crossed. We were denied. Justice? Integrity? Fair play? Hardly.”

Social Circle said it plans to present a proposed rule change that would allow for video footage to be used to correct scoring errors during the state playoffs.

Drew Carter won the Class A title Wednesday afternoon with a 51-50 win over Warren County High School. It is the first championship in the school’s history.

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