Look around high school basketball in this area, or anywhere in this country for that matter, and two things become obvious, one of them pleasant and one painful.

The first thing you notice is that the athletes who play the game -- both the boys and the girls -- are dramatically better today than even their most immediate predecessors. Oh, they might not shoot the ball as well or rebound or do the basic things that kids 10 or 15 or 20 years ago did, but they clearly run and jump better, and they are stronger.

What is also obvious is that the officiating has not kept pace with the physical improvements. Oh, we're not talking about the quality, per se, though the ability of referees can fluctuate wildly from gym to gym.

No, we're talking about the sheer numbers of officials on the floor. While the NBA and college basketball long ago went to three referees, high school games are still being worked by just two officials, save for special occasions like the Basketball Academy, and the state tournament.

The result is that there's more chippiness in games, especially off the ball, where a third referee would notice more of the goings-on than two do.

Of course, the problem is that there aren't enough referees to go around to form three-person crews. Officiating isn't nearly as attractive a post-playing career pursuit as coaching. That's understandable, since the money and visibility are not as good for referees, not to mention the fact that when you're a coach, only half the people in the gym hate you at a given time.

Still, the game, which in these parts is the best thing high school athletics have to offer, is suffering for lack of a third guy (or woman) in stripes.