STANFIELD — Blaine Ganvoa wakes up most mornings to a handful text messages from athletic directors asking if they can move a game.

Ganvoa, who takes care of the referee schedule for the Blue Mountain Basketball Officials Association, tries to accommodate everyone the best he can, but with just 51 officials covering games from Spray to Milton-Freewater, he can’t make everyone happy.

“Some days the stars don’t always line up,” Ganvoa said. “They pitch days, and I tell them whether we have bodies or not. Not all are available every day, every hour.”

With the recent winter storms, Ganvoa’s computer program was getting a workout.

“Most of the ADs have been around, so they know the reality of it,” he said. “With postseason coming up, oftentimes to get games in, we have to cut out the JV. That hurts the programs’ development, but people are just doing the best they can.”

The most recent games postponed were Griswold at Pilot Rock on Thursday, Jan. 18, and Ione/Arlington at South Wasco County on Jan. 19. The Ione/Arlington game was rescheduled to Jan. 29, while the Griswold/Pilot Rock game is still pending.

“The biggest part, which stands out to me, is the collaboration between the officials and schools,” Ganvoa said. “We want to give the kids the experience, but in the safest way we can. Even with the changes, it’s still not as crazy as December with the tournaments and nonleague games on different days.”

There are 18 basketball games scheduled for Jan. 19, and 16 on Jan. 20. They were all waiting to see what the roads would be like for each day.

Pendleton’s Red Lion Duals (wrestling) were scheduled for Jan. 20, and Baker was scheduled to play basketball at Pendleton on Jan. 19. Both events were canceled late Jan. 18. The Pendleton swim team is hoping to make its meet in Molalla on Jan. 20.

“The officials association is pretty used to this, this time of year,” Somnis said. “The associations are really good about trying to reschedule us.”

One of the issues in rescheduling games is making sure there are enough officials, and making sure the officials aren’t being overworked.

The officials, who work in teams of three, will work the varsity boys and girls games on any given night. Occasionally, they may have to work a junior varsity game, as well.

“We aren’t spring chickens,” Ganvoa said. “Doing three games a night is not an easy thing. I can’t remember the last time I went and reffed just one game at the high school level. The JV level, it’s been around 50/50 with having two or three officials.”

There are days when officials will work an early game at one site, then travel to another for more games.

“There is a lot of time spent on the road,” Ganvoa said.

Wrestling isn’t as hard as basketball to get back on the schedule. The Blue Mountain Wrestling Officials service seven schools, and on occasion help out in Hermiston.

“I’ve got five officials, counting myself, who are qualified to do varsity and JV matches,” BMWO Commissioner Dale Freeman said. “I have five high school wrestlers who are qualified to do freshmen level and youth matches. I’m always looking for more officials.”

Freeman had two officials from La Grande who were coming down to work the tournament, including Eastern Oregon University’s Kendall Martin. She is injured right now and unable to compete, so she officiates matches.

“There are teams hurting to get on the mat because of cancellations,” Freeman said. “They need mat time with districts coming up.”