Basketball Ireland orders replay of 0.3 seconds of a match to determine semifinalists

In a shocking decision, the National League Committee (NLC) of Ireland Basketball has ordered to replay of 0.3 seconds of the game between Limerick Sports Eagles and Portlaoise Panthers. This comes after the basketball authority refused to allow a replay of the full game as ordered by the National Appeals Committee (NAC).

This all comes after a dramatic match between Limerick Sports Eagles and Portlaoise Panthers on March 23. The game ended in favour of the Eagles as they beat the Panthers by 80-78 by riding over a free throw. However, after the game Panthers appealed in NLC citing that the clock had expired at the same time the foul was called.

Considering their allegations NLC said that the referee’s decision should be upheld as it cannot be overturned. They also allowed the Panthers to file an appeal in NAC which changed the whole scenario. The NAC ordered that the game should be played again in its entirety.

‘NAC opportunity granted in error’, says Basketball Ireland

With all this drama going on in NAC the Basketball Ireland, the supreme body to monitor the sport in the country, said that the option to go into NAC was “granted in error.” Since this revelation, the NLC said that just a controversial 0.3 seconds will be played again.

The NLC said that both teams will replay it within a week and the final date and time should be decided mutually. Notably, the scoreline of 80-78 will stay and teams will have to start from here only. The winner of this game will have to face MOY Tolka Rovers in the semi-finals.

The debate arose after Jason Killeen was found to have been fouled while shooting as the final buzzer rang. The former Ireland captain made the two resulting free throws to put the Eagles ahead. This might be the smallest game ever to determine the semifinalist.