In the final seconds and with a five-point lead, No. 7 Bella Vista appeared to be headed for another Capital Athletic League boys basketball victory Friday night at Rio Americano High School.

Then all hell broke loose with 12.3 seconds to play.

The result: The Raiders walked away with a 68-62 win after Rio's Zach Nathanson made 17 of 18 foul shots. Those shots came moments after a Rio Americano player fouled a Bella Vista player and was ejected.

In all, the teams may have been assessed up to 11 technicals, although the actual number still is in dispute. In addition to Nathanson's 18 shots, Bella Vista shot eight foul shots, making six.

Bella Vista has filed an appeal asking that the result be overturned, claiming the referees misapplied rules by awarding the Raiders too many technical fouls. That appeal is scheduled to be heard by a three-member league panel at 10 a.m. today at Casa Roble High School.

"Never in my experience have I seen something like this," said CAL commissioner Jim Waldman, who has been involved in athletics for 43 years. "We've had cases of misapplication of the rules before, but nothing like this that has had such serious consequences to an outcome of the game."

The dispute happened after Bella Vista's Justin Haley blocked the shot of Rio Americano's Pierce Burton, who in turned fouled Haley so hard that members of both teams came out onto the floor, although Waldman and Bella Vista boys coach David Gonzalez concurred no punches were thrown.

Burton was assessed a technical foul and ejected.

Gonzalez said he, his father Paul, a Broncos' assistant, and seven bench players were assessed technicals for going onto the court. Each technical resulted in two shots.

Gonzalez believes that under National High School Federation rules, no more than four technical foul shots should have been awarded, regardless of how many players and coaches were on the floor. But he disputes the number of players the referees claimed went onto the court.

"We went out there to try to get Justin to our bench before anything else happened," David Gonzalez said. "Two players did come behind us, but not seven."

Waldman on Monday met with coaches, athletic directors and administrators from the schools. Also present was Brian Moore, who oversees basketball referees for the Northern California Officials Association. Waldman said both teams showed tapes of the disputed moments as Moore asked questions of Gonzalez and Rio Americano coach Chris Jones.

Waldman said Moore will present a report to the committee today.

The game is key for both teams.

The Raiders (12-11 overall, 3-4 in league), struggling through a tough season that saw star senior guard Kyle Odister leave in midseason for a prep school in New Hampshire, are fighting to make the Sac-Joaquin Section D-II playoffs. Bella Vista is trying to win the league title.

With the loss, the Broncos are 19-5 overall and 6-1 in league and tied with Del Campo with three league games remaining, including the finale Feb. 18 at Del Campo. The loss also could impact the Broncos' chances of hosting two playoff games.

Big-game week – Several critical games are on this week's boys schedule. Among them:

• No. 6 Burbank (18-6, 6-1) at No. 4 Sacramento (17-6, 6-1), 7 p.m. today. This likely will decide the Metro Conference champion as the teams are tied for first.

• No. 4 Pleasant Grove (19-3, 7-1) at top-ranked Folsom (22-1, 8-0), 7 p.m., Wednesday. The Eagles will try to force a tie for first in the Delta River League; the Bulldogs will try to extend their win streak to 21.

• No. 15 Ponderosa (18-5, 7-2) at No. 17 Christian Brothers (16-4, 6-2), 7:30 p.m., Wednesday. The Falcons can wrest away the Sierra Valley Conference lead with a win.

Call The Bee's Bill Paterson, (916) 326-5506.