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It's not the same with ref gone from game Commentary By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN It's one of the big games in the careers of two legendary Southern Oregon high school basketball coaches. The year: 1975. The coaches: Al Keck of Klamath Union and Frank Roelandt of Medford High. The venue: Oregon Institute of Technology's Owl Court. The crowd is energized to a fever pitch as two longtime rivals meet in a one-game playoff for the Southern Oregon Conference championship and a trip to the state tournament. Even the referees are energized. "We don't have crowds like those any more," says Tom Perdue, a 30-year basketball referee from Central Point, who was selected by his peers to work in 16 state tournaments, including 10 state championship games. Perdue, 55, who retired a year ago as one of the premier basketball officials to work in Southern Oregon, is athletic director and dean of students at Scenic Middle School of Central Point. He says it's hard to go out to watch basketball now that he's out of the game as an official. But he says he forces himself to go "to support my buddies (officials)." Perdue says the playoff in 1975 between Medford and Klamath Union may be his most memorable game as a referee. "It's an honor to work a game like that," he says. "It was a big game, and the place was packed. I loved the atmosphere." The game begins and Perdue starts to settle into the flow. He finds himself sprinting up the court in pursuit of the action. Suddenly, he almost runs over Keck, who is standing at least five feet onto the court barking at one of his players. Perdue hits Keck with a technical foul. Keck goes crazy. Roelandt, who is in his own little emotional world, barely notices the call. But he appreciates the free throw and ball possession his team gets. "Al had it coming, but it was one of those spur-of-the-moment things you wonder if they will call in a game like that," says Roelandt. "I said, `Oh my God, he called a technical on Al. I can't believe it.' "We made the free throw and got a bucket out of it, and we went on to win the game. Tom wasn't going to let that game get out of hand. That technical told us how it was going to be." Perdue drives home that night after Medford wins the game. He feels guilty over having to hit Keck with a technical foul. The next morning, the telephone rings in the Perdue home. It's Keck. "My wife answered and told me Al was on the phone," says Perdue. "I said, `Oh, no.' "But Al had called to tell me I made the right call. I was relieved. It was like he knew how guilty I felt." Among most Rogue Valley high school basketball officials, Perdue was an institution. He wanted the game to be fun for kids, but called properly within the spirit of the rules. His rewards were minor paychecks and major abuse from fans and coaches. But he still loved it. It showed on the court. Perdue says he was rarely intimidated by a crowd. Instead, he found ways to smile through adversity and laugh at himself. Or at others. When Perdue retired as a Southern Oregon official, he was immediately missed. Suddenly, the guy with the graying curly hair and big smile was gone. Perdue also plans to retire as a Scenic administrator in June. He's already found a new activity for retirement -- golf. Perdue admits his wife is a better golfer, but that doesn't dampen his fun. The two also plan to travel more now that his officiating days are only a memory. "As far as officiating goes, I miss it terribly," he says. "But it was time. I was having leg problems and other physical things going wrong, and I wanted to get out before I hurt the game." Lee Sparks, current commissioner of the Medford Basketball Officials Association, says Perdue inspired him to be a basketball official. "He's my guru," says Sparks, another excellent official in his time who also wanted players to enjoy the game when he was officiating. "He taught me a lot about officiating, and how to deal with all kinds of people." When Perdue shows up in a Southern Oregon gymnasium to watch a high school game, he gets comments. They are normally friendly little jabs or hellos. But he's still well-known and well-liked by coaches, former players and many fans. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford,