MSHSL History Capsule: Blake Hoffarber
Posted: Monday, January 22, 2024 - 11:33 AM
While Blake Hoffarber of Hopkins High School made perhaps the most dramatic shot in Minnesota basketball lore in 2005, it was also billed as one of the best calls in officiating history.
In March of 2007, Referee magazine published a feature story on the “18 Best Calls in Officiating History.” The entries on the list includes calls from the World Series, NFL playoffs, Soccer World Cup, NBA Playoffs and NCAA football and basketball championship games.
And one from the high school level. And it was from Minnesota. Can you recall the play, game setting and ruling?
It was the “rump shot” by Hopkins guard Blake Hoffarber, a two-handed miracle heave while on his backside that sent the 2005 Class AAAA championship game against Eastview into a second overtime. Hopkins went on to capture the big-school crown with a 71-60 victory.
While the shot created equal amounts of euphoria, disbelief and dread along press row as reporters tore up their game stories with Eastview as the victor, the officiating crew of Mike Bronson, Steve Bullert and Mike Ekren were thrown into the spotlight. During a long period of dramatic pause, the officiating crew had to dissect the play without the assistance of video replay. Meanwhile, the fans were able to see the play unfold numerous times on Target Center’s jumbo scoreboard.
There were three critical parts to the call that were made:
- Making the correct determination of if more time should be put back on the clock, and if so, how much?
- Determining if Hoffarber’s shot was a two-point attempt or a three-pointer.
- Deciding whether or not the shot was released prior to the horn sounding to signal the end of the game.
Hoffarber went on to play at the University of Minnesota. As a freshman, in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals, made a twisting jumper to defeat Indiana, but it paled to the drama of his “rump shot.”
