When attending a winter high school basketball game whether as a fan, player, cheerleader or broadcaster, we should recognize some familiar faces that play key roles in assuring that games run efficiently. These folks sit unassumingly at a table located in the bleachers or at floor level; they are the scorer and timer and they have many responsibilities.
The scorer’s responsibility is so great that floor officials must establish the closest cooperation and understanding with them. The scorer must receive each team’s roster 10 minutes prior to a game and notify the referees if they are not. The official scorer or a delegated assistant must be at the scorer’s table with the official scorebook at all times. They must verify the lineup after all intermissions and notify either floor official if a player, who has not reported, has entered the court. The nonofficial scorer should check each entry with the official scorer. These two must communicate with each other on total running score, the player who scores, verify scoreboard score, exchange name and number of player committing a foul, and be responsible for alternating possession arrow. In case of controversy, the record of the official scorebook is accepted unless the referee has knowledge, which permits him or her to rule otherwise.
The referee designates the official timepiece and its operator. The timer sounds a warning signal 15 seconds before the expiration of an intermission, a timeout and the 20-second interval to replace a disqualified, injured or player directed to leave the game. The official timer ascertains the game starting time and suggests that the referee and coaches synchronize their watches. He or she must review the official signals for starting the clock, timeouts, a foul or violation. Also, they must notify the scorer 10 minutes prior to the starting time. The timer starts the official clock when the ball is legally tapped when play is started by a jump, or the ball touches a player on the court during a throw-in. Also, time stops when any period ends or when an official gives a timeout signal. These are just a few of the items for which the scorer and timer are responsible.
Presque Isle High School has been fortunate to have had four quality individuals manage these positions for many years. Nellie Guerrette, Harold Tardy, Bob Flewelling and Spike Savage have spent a combined total of approximately 150 years at the scorer’s table.
Nellie Guerrette began his career at the table when he was a senior at PIHS in 1956. His official duties were that of the scorer and timer. At that time, the games were played at the Cunningham School, and for many years, the job was done without any monetary compensation. He recalls that he has seen so many outstanding players perform that it is difficult to name them all. Some of his favorite teams were the 1961, 1968, 1971 and 1979 squads. He has fond memories of the memorable battles with Caribou, Bangor and Fort Fairfield when they were in Class “A.” He remembers watching many fine officials work games, names such as Stan Stromback, Jim Dyer, Chink Brewer, Paul Lynch, Ron Smith, Dana Hews, Vavel Guiggey and many of the current officials. While working at Cunningham, once it became a middle school, he had the opportunity to watch many of the young players develop and eventually become high school standouts.
Harold Tardy took his seat at the scorer’s table at the start of the 1959-60 season. Harold always had a passion for basketball from early in his childhood when he played, and it has continued through his adult life. He and his wife always attended all of the home and away games. One evening in 1959, he and his wife were sitting behind Nellie at the scorer’s table. Nellie asked him if would like to keep track of fouls. Now, 50 years later, he is still there and looking to make this his last year. His responsibility was to keep an accurate record of timeouts called by each team and also post personal fouls on the scoreboard. Harold has fond memories of the early days and the huge crowds that would attend every game. He stated, “You could feel the tension build during the JV games. Many of the student body were involved in the game as cheerleaders, band, pom pom team and majorettes.”
Until 1974, they were primarily responsible for boy’s games. At this time, girl’s basketball came onto the scene and their duties doubled. From the 1956-57 season until now, they have been responsible for approximately 800 games, not including exhibitions and pre-season tournament games.
Bob Flewelling took over the duties of the official scorer at the beginning of the 1956-57 season and stayed until the end of the 1972-73 season, accumulating 17 years of service to Presque Isle basketball. For many years, it was a non-compensated position. Larry Richard was in his first year as head coach. He stayed for two years then he was followed by Dana Hews, Eugene (Dint) Lovely, Gary Osgood and Sterling LeBlanc. Bob was at the scorer’s table when two significant win streaks came to an end. On Dec. 3, 1966, Presque Isle defeated Stearns 96-75 at Presque Isle to end the Minutemen’s 74-game regular season win streak. Dec. 13, 1968, Presque Isle traveled to Millinocket and knocked off the Minutemen 53-52 to end their 55-game home win streak.
When Bob decided to leave after the 1974-75 season, he was replaced by Spike Savage. Savage was the official scorer for 29 years beginning with the 1975-76 season until he got done after the 2003-04 season. Spike was recruited by Athletic Director Dint Lovely and served at the table under three coaches: Bob Beaulieu, Butch Shaw and Tim Prescott. He indicated that Coach Shaw introduced him to a very detailed method of keeping the scorebook so that it would be helpful to the coaching when reviewing game film. He almost removed himself from the scorebook when his son, Heath, was playing, which would have permitted him to watch more of his games. At the time, he only traveled with the team to away games in Houlton and Caribou. Two events stand out in his mind over the years. One was the hard work and dedication demonstrated by Eric Weider in the late 70s. After home games and once the gym had cleared, Weider would come back out onto the floor and practice by himself in order to perfect his skills. He also felt that one of the most remarkable comebacks he saw was by the 1988 Wildcats who were down by 23 points to Cony late in the third quarter in the Eastern Maine semi-final. The “Cats” erased the lead during the fourth quarter and won the game by one point in the final seconds. He also remembers when the Wildcats entered the tournament as a lower seed. He was forced to sit in the opponents’ section where he would be behind the Presque Isle bench.
Nellie and Harold have been joined by Marcie Young at the scorer’s table for the last four years. Marcie is also the wife of varsity boy’s assistant basketball coach, Scott Young.
A special thank you to Nellie Guerrette, Harold Tardy, Bob Flewelling and Spike Savage for their contribution to this article. If you wish to comment on this article, please contact me at 207-764-1217.
