New Jersey high school files lawsuit in effort to overturn playoff defeat after video CONCLUSIVELY shows game-winning shot was erroneously waived off by officials: 'Use the videotape!'

A high school in New Jersey has taken legal action in an effort to overturn a playoff loss after replays conclusively shows that the game-winning shot was erroneously waived off by the game's refereeing crew. 

Manasquan High School, whose game-winning buzzer-beater against Camden on Tuesday in the state semifinals was chalked off by refs' despite the basketball being released before time expired, has filed a lawsuit in an effort to uphold Saturday's Group 2 championship game against Arts, as it looks to have the semifinal result overturned, according to NJ.com. 

Clark Law Firm is representing The Manasquan Board of Education and will look for an 'injunctive relief' from New Jersey Superior Court Judge Mark Troncone. A hearing could now take place as soon as Thursday, attorney Gerald Clark told the website. 

'We're asking Judge Troncone to put the brakes on this game on Saturday pending judicial review of what happened,' Clarke told NJ.com. 'What we're trying to do is put the brakes on the game pending on who should be the right team to be in that game and declare Manasquan the winner. We will argue that the NJSIAA's rules would require them to use the videotape to get the right result here.'

Viral video on X shows that Manasquan's Griffin Linstra got his shot off with a little more than half a second (0.6 secs to be exact) remaining.

Manasquan’s Griffin Linstra got his shot off before the buzzer and with 0.6 secs, video shows

Since the controversial end to Tuesday's game, the NJSIAA has admitted to getting the call wrong, but is sticking with its bylaws that do not allow replay review. Thus,  the incorrect call stands despite the official who said he thought the ball was still in Lindra's possession as time expired agreed after seeing video that the basket should have in fact counted. 

The referees didn't get together to discuss the call until Camden coaches pleaded with them, according to NJ.com, with one of the officials telling the outlet that the sequence of events that followed were unusual and 'that conversation never should have happened.' 

Before the last-second appeal, the trail official on the play, named as Kevin Torres in the lawsuit, was seen walking off the court without objecting to the call of a made field goal attempt. 

The lead official, David Niven, didn't make any motion to review the call with the center official, Jerome Starr, who was the referee who made the initial call to count the bucket, according to NJ.com. 

Manasquan's Alex Kong celebrated too early, thinking his team had advanced to the state final

On Wednesday, Manasquan shared that it was considering to take legal action against NJSIAA

Ultimately, Manasquan's appeal with the NJSIAA was denied.

'I've never seen anything like it,' Manasquan coach Andrew Bilodeau told the New York Post on Wednesday. 'I've coached here for 16 years and 30 years overall and nothing like that has ever happened.'

'Everyone recognizes and the video shows the original call was right,' Attorney Gerald Clark, of the Clark Law Firm, said in a statement obtained by NJ.com on Wednesday night. 

'The correct call was made, the game was over and officials had left the court, only to return to overturn the correct call. The NJSIAA should follow its own rules under these circumstances and declare Manasquan the rightful winner. We have not seen anything to suggest any foul play nor ill will by anyone in this matter and it is important to recognize neither the coaches, players, nor fans on either side had anything to do with this incorrect call and referees make mistakes like everyone else.

'NJSIAA has the authority to make this right and it is our position they should follow their own rules and do so. They should forthwith declare Manasquan the official winner and clear them to play Arts High School in the championship game.'