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A high school basketball playoff game in California is surrounded by controversy due to officiating. The losing side feels robbed of a chance to reach the title contest.
The drama involves one team playing possessions with an extra player on the court. Referees not only missed the illegal substitution but then punished the victim for pointing out the issue.
The outing was a Final Four matchup in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 Boys’ Basketball Tournament. The winner would advance to the championship round.
The game saw the JSerra Lions face off against the Inglewood Sentinels. The Lions would win a high-scoring affair, 103-91.
Drama surrounds California high school basketball playoff game.
Inglewood, which had posted a 28-5 overall record to that point, led early in the first half of play. With under a minute remaining in the first quarter, the Sentinels held a 20-16 advantage.
That lead would quickly turn into a deficit.
JSerra (22-12) somehow slipped a sixth player onto the court for at least one offensive and one defensive possession. They’d hit a three-pointer with the extra man on the floor to cut into the lead.
Officials missed the substitution. Inglewood coaches did not. They argued for play to be stopped. By rule, it could’ve been a technical foul on the Lions.
Instead, officials issued a tech to the Sentinels.
Here is the video showing 6 JSerra players on the court. One complete offensive possession and one defensive possession until the 6th player exited the floor during play. What ended up being 5 points for JSerra ( Bailes 3-pointer and 2 Technical free throws) should have been a… pic.twitter.com/qbcOD2qXdH
— MorrisonDV (@Morrison_DV) February 23, 2026
The CIF Southern Section did not comment.
Eric Sondheimer of the LA Times reached out. He did not get an explanation related to either the officiating gaffe or potential repercussions.
The Southern Section has no comment regarding officials allowing six players on the court for JSerra in basketball game against Inglewood and then calling technicals against Inglewood for arguing. Bad look.
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) February 23, 2026
One commenter says the referees were removed from the playoffs. Sondheimer was unable to confirm.
The mishap certainly impacted the game. JSerra was given an on-court advantage while evading punishment. After making an offensive bucket, they then got to shoot two free throws that should’ve been awarded to Inglewood.
It was a two-to-three possession swing. The game was ultimately decided by 12 points. Maybe it made a difference in the final result. Maybe not.
The Sentinels will never know, but at this point in time, they feel robbed of a spot in the championship game.