Although the Henderson County High School boys basketball team didn’t make it to the state championship, the local hoops community was still represented in March 29’s game at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
David Benson, a basketball official who lives in Henderson, called the state championship game in which Great Crossing defeated Bowling Green.
Benson said the Kentucky High School Athletic Association picked him and two others and an alternate to officiate the game. Benson was chosen as the referee, which is the lead official in the game and the one who tosses up the opening tip-off.
Benson said he and his partners were chosen from 3,000 other officials across the state.
“That says a lot,” he said.
Was it a thrill? “Oh yeah,” said Benson. “Whoever throws it up is the main man. I got to throw it up.”
“There’s not an official in the state who wouldn’t have wanted to be in that position Saturday night,” he added.
Benson, who works for the local Vocational Rehabilitation Services, said he began refereeing basketball games 33 years ago. He started out officiating local ABA games back in 1991-92, he said. After that, he began working junior varsity games and then worked his way up to varsity.
He refs both boys and girls varsity basketball games now in Region 2. He’s also been a high school softball umpire for 25 years.
It’s not always an easy gig, he said.
“You got to have tough skin,” Benson said. “I’m going to get talked about, going to get booed, but you got to have that tough skin.”
Benson said during games there’s not going to be anyone in the gym who’s on the officials’ side—one side is for their team, the other side is for their team. But there’s no one on the refs’ side—except the other officials.
That’s led to strong bonds with the officials he’s worked with, one of the best parts of his officiating career, Benson said, adding he has befriended so many across the region and state because of his work on the hardwood.
“It brings about a lot of friendships,” he said.
That’s needed, he said, because officiating is more difficult now than it was in the past. For one, the all-around competition is more equal at all levels. Two, parents tend to hold stronger opinions about their son’s or daughter’s ability now than in the past. That can lend itself to tense situations in gyms around the region.
Benson said he takes his officiating work seriously. He said he’s had some bad games and he’s missed calls—every official has. But you can’t dwell on it, he said.
“You learn from it and move on,” he said. Otherwise “it’ll eat you up.”
“At the end of the day, I got to get on to the next game,” he said.
Benson said his mindset about the games he officiates is not the same as a fan’s because he’s not there to watch or get caught up in a great game—he’s there to call the game.
“Every game deserves the official’s best,” he said.
He holds a similar mindset about the players who’ve played in the games he has called. He said some coaches point out to him they’ve got a Division I player on their team. His response is that he’s refereeing the game—“I don’t watch the player.”
That’s much the same reason he couldn’t name the best player he’s seen while he’s been an official. Although, he did say that there has been a lot of talent that has come through the 2nd Region since he’s been a referee.
The 65-year-old Benson said he’s not sure how much longer he’ll continue to officiate, though he’s not ready to hang up the whistle yet. He’ll know when it’s time, he said.
Like players, he gets nervous before games and has his own ritual to keep himself calm and ready. He tells himself to, “Focus. Trust yourself. Trust in the ability the Lord has given you. Trust in the ability of those you work with.”
“Quality calls, strong mechanics and a patient whistle will get you a long way,” he said.
That’s true—they got Benson all the way to the state championship.