Long-time basketball official Jim Newman called his final games at Gallatin High School Tuesday night, and received an unexpected surprise at the start of the girls game between Gallatin and Princeton.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
Newman, who is retiring after 50 seasons (including 35 seasons as a college official) as one of the top basketball referees in the state, tossed the ball up for the opening tipoff and watched in amazement as all 10 girl players sat down in unison while the ball was in the air.
The preplanned routine caught nearly everyone by surprise, but the game got underway after PA announcer Tom Garnett read Newman’s bio to the applause of Bulldog and Tiger fans.
Newman called his first high school game at Stanberry in 1960. He has since called five state championship games and worked a total of eight high school Final Four tournaments.