Diamond Ranch HS Denied CIF Protest Over Referee Decision

Diamond Ranch High students learned this week that some lessons aren’t taught in the classroom.

The events surrounding Saturday night’s CIF Division 3AA girl’s basketball game between Diamond Ranch and Gardena Serra High have put the school in the media spotlight. At issue is a Serra player being returned to the game after allegedly fouling out – because of an official’s decision.

Despite a formal protest being filed with the CIF-Southern Section before the game ended, the Panthers were denied the chance at a complaint, athletic director Candace Cayer said. The CIF official that oversees girl’s basketball, Rainer Wulf, told Cayer that an official’s decision could not be overturned.

The player in question, Serra’s Sierra Thompson, was directly involved in the Cavaliers 82-70 overtime victory.

But what happened next has Diamond Ranch parents, educators and administrators bursting with pride.

Not only did the student body, including the players, keep their composure that night, Cayer said, but they have shown maturity and forgiveness while respectfully asking for acknowledgement that a mistake was made.

In a letter from the Associated Student Body to the CIF, they reiterate the CIF’s motto, “Pursuing Victory With Honor.” They also ask that they be “strongly considered” for a berth in next week’s CIF Division 3 State Playoffs.

A senior on the team, Nicole Pfutzenreuter, put the Panthers feelings into perspective.

“Even if this is an injustice, life needed to teach us this lesson right now,” Pfutzenreuter said. “We’re just hoping we get a state bid.”

Cayer said that in a game that’s that emotional, if the girls themselves hadn’t handled themselves with such composure, they could have really had a problem.

“They are asking for an acknowledgement or an apology for the error,” Cayer said. “That’s all the kids want.”

A Diamond Ranch parent provided video of the game to NBC Channel 4 in Los Angeles. The video was broken down to show each of the five fouls called and was aired Wednesday by sportscaster Fred Roggin.

According to people in attendance at the neutral site, North Torrance High School , Thompson picked up what was believed to be her fifth foul with 32 seconds left to play in regulation and Diamond Ranch clinging to a 63-62 lead.

Cayer said Thompson left the court crying, removed her jersey and dejectedly took a seat on Serra's bench. She was then comforted by somebody from out of the stands.

Meanwhile, Diamond Ranch officials said, an adult came out of the stands, went to the scorer's table and spoke with Serra's scorekeeper for the game. Moments later, Thompson was re-entering the game, with Serra's scorekeeper claiming he had made a mistake and had Thompson with only three fouls.

If there is a dispute, the home scorekeeper’s book is official, and Serra was the designated home team.

Thompson went back in to the game and hit a 3-pointer to put Serra ahead by two before Diamond Ranch tied the game at the buzzer with a layup by Erika Williams to send it into overtime.

Thompson went on to score 10 points in overtime as Serra advanced to the CIF finals. Thompson finished with 28 points.

Diamond Ranch principal Suzanne E. Steinseifer-Ripley addressed the issue by saying,  “…Our girl’s and fans, while obviously shocked, conducted themselves with honor and integrity.  We do appreciate the efforts of our parents to continue the fight and bring this injustice to light, beyond the avenues available to us.

“To quote our 13th President of the United States, Millard Fillmore, ‘An honorable defeat is better than a dishonorable victory.’"

View Fred Rogan's footage of the game on NBC Los Angeles.