SANDPOINT - "He walked!"

Referee Dave Oakes drove all the way from St. Maries to Sandpoint on a recent Friday night, for a venture that ultimately takes about eight hours of his day and puts him home just before midnight.

"Call it both ways!"

Fellow crew member John Posnick, working the fourth of five straight games during a busy week, drove all the way from the Wallace area to call fouls, charges, blocks, travels and jump balls for the Bulldog boys home basketball game against West Valley.

"How can you not call that!"

The third member of the officiating crew, Mike Floch, came from Post Falls, plying a trade he loves for what ultimately pays less than it takes to fill a small gas tank.

If all goes well, the aforementioned shouts will be among the worst the crew hears, and if not, the chirping from the back seat refs in the crowd could be slightly more vitriolic.

So it goes for area zebras, who invest hundreds of winter hours only to have their every call scrutinized by players, coaches, parents and fans alike. Call it the nature of the beast.

Admit it, who among us hasn't let a referee know how we felt at one time or another?

Suffice it to say, it’s a labor of love for basketball officials in North Idaho, who brave treacherous roads, long drives, late nights and yes, some occasional verbal abuse.

“People say, ‘I can’t believe what people yell at you,’” says Floch, 46, currently working his 20th year behind the whistle. “You really don’t hear it, you’re just trying to do a great job for the kids. You laugh at them, diffuse them, wink at them — they’re all good.”

For Posnick, a 59-year-old who is currently the District 1 basketball commissioner, it was just another road trip doing what he loves, another night’s work adding to a résumé of games spanning 27 years. His week included a girls game in Sandpoint on Tuesday, a JV game in Wallace on Wednesday, a game at Lakeland on Thursday, back to Sandpoint on Friday and a boys game at Coeur d’Alene on Saturday night.

Having called games for darn near half his life, he no doubt has a treasure trove of memories, including a time when his crew got into a fight in the parking lot after a game. He feels consistency and hard work are traits that make the best officials.

Posnick still loves coming to the gym, still loves the game, still feeds off the energy and competitiveness of the kids and still enjoys hanging out with the many great friends he’s made along the way. As to how long he’ll continue to ref, he shunned the hardwood for a baseball analogy.

“I’ve rounded third base, heading home. (I’ll ref) as long as I can give back,” says Posnick, who like all of his brethren in stripes, has developed some thick skin. “Every town’s got their idiots, but most people appreciate the job you do. We just try and keep it fair.”

Oakes, 56, has been calling games for 24 years, and about five minutes into the Sandpoint/West Valley game, he aggravated a nagging hamstring injury, limping up and down the court before a replacement official from the stands could get dressed.

Having played sports his whole life, officiating provides Oakes a perfect way to stay close to the action, and the hamstring pull notwithstanding, provides a great way to stay in shape and stay young. All three refs sported beads of perspiration, the byproduct from keeping up with a bunch of fast-breaking teenagers.

Oakes, Posnick and Floch have more than 70 years of collective experience, working together as a crew at state for many of the past 10 years.

“There’s some experience on the floor tonight,” describes Oakes, who feels integrity is huge for a good official. “I knew how I felt when I got screwed by an official. I try my darndest not to have that happen.”

Floch loves hoops so much that he often attends the games even on nights when he’s not working, drawn to the atmosphere and energy. He believes judgment is the key to good officiating, and tries to remind the newer officials to smile, that they’re out there to have fun just like the players.

Not surprisingly from such a veteran crew, the game went smoothly, with West Valley claiming a 63-45 win over Sandpoint. There were no technical fouls called, very few calls were questioned and the men in stripes were hardly noticed, which was fine by Floch.

“The less eventful, the better the game went,” he says. “If no one remembers who works the game, that’s the best.”