"There's been a shortage of officials for high school sports in recent years. Daniel Ashikian, 21, and Casey Pope, 18, have answered the call. They're in their second season of officiating basketball games in the San Fernando Valley unit. "It's better than working at McDonald's," Pope said. Pope played basketball at Monroe High and immediately wanted to become an official."
"Ashikian has played basketball for years on his own and wanted to stay involved in the sport. They worked a junior varsity girls' game at Granada Hills this week. South Gate wants to play its semifinal playoff game on Saturday so badly at home that it's broken out a tarp so the City Section officials can't deem it unplayable after expected rain Thursday night. I thought only baseball coaches knew about tarps."
There has been a shortage of officials for high school sports in recent years. Daniel Ashikian, 21, and Casey Pope, 18, have become basketball officials and are in their second season with the San Fernando Valley unit. Pope, a former Monroe High player, said officiating is better than working at McDonald's and wanted to become an official immediately. Ashikian has played basketball for years and sought to stay involved in the sport. The two worked a junior varsity girls' game at Granada Hills. South Gate attempted to protect a home semifinal with a tarp ahead of expected rain. The presence of young officials offers hope that other former players will join officiating ranks.
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