For Harland Burgess, The Big House in Oklahoma City has a lot of memories.
It’s where he led the Chandler Lions to a basketball state title back in 1997. It’s also where he’s spent the last 13 seasons officiating state championship basketball games for the OSSAA.
“It means a lot, especially since this was the last dance at the Big House,” he said. “A lot of memories in that building. It’s a lot of memories.”
His final game there this season was the 3A boys’ state championship matchup of Millwood versus Cascia Hall. And while he couldn’t officiate the Chandler game against Sequoyah, he was there watching.
“I looked up there at the section, I mean… it was Chandler blue everywhere. I said, ‘Ain’t nobody in Chandler today,’” he joked. “It was really good to just see them go for it.”
Burgess remembered his own time as a player in the Big House, saying Chandler was the underdogs. They were up against Carnegie Wildcats, which were 27 and 1. Carnegie already had hats made up that said ‘97 State Champs and came out in black hoodies and oil on their faces, “like ‘Rocky’, like a movie.” Burgess said they shot up 21 to 9 in the first quarter, so he called a timeout.
“And I just looked it out. I looked at my twin brother… I said,’ I’m gonna tell you something. You better hook up right now.’ I said, ‘Seriously, it’s time.’” he said. “And we made a game out of it... But it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever been a part of.”
Since then, Burgess has been working his way up in the officiating world. He said he first started as a way to keep active and stay connected to basketball. He would call community games, but then connect with Rick Fredman, the athletic director in Wellston, who told him he should talk to Wendell Kelly about getting into OSSAA games.
That led to Burgess getting certified, and within his first three years as a ref, he was officiating championship games. For him, he enjoys the camaraderie.
“We all come together there and just have fun, see each other, have a long season,” he said. “I just love the different matchups with different teams because I see some of them during the year and some of them I don’t, but just to see them and then some of the coaches that’s still in it, that’s been coaching 15, 20 years, see them and yeah, it’s a pretty good thing.”
He said he also enjoys those games that are really good matchups. The ones where he has to referee every play because the game is intense and full of athleticism.
“I don’t want a game that is gonna be a blowout… I want to work something to test my fortitude of play, call of accuracy and game management,” he said.
Officiating is not without its challenges. He said that it can be tough working with new officials and sometimes coaches, as well as managing the game. He said he’d like to tell coaches that they can dispute a few calls, but you can dispute all of them.
Beyond officiating, which Burgess says he wants to do for at least 30 years, he runs camps to help others who are looking to get into it.
His group is called the OBOA Association, and he had over 10 officials - including himself - make the state terms this year.
But it’s definitely not nearly the end of the road for Burgess. Beyond making it to at least 30 years, he is working toward Division 1. He’s going to two camps this off-season and hopes to make it to the SEC while also continuing to help others.
“I try to help everybody that I can.”