|
One of the smartest plays I've seen was last season in a boys varsity game. Small, rural schools located about 10 miles from each other. They're not in the same conference, but they play each other every year. The gym is packed before the JV game starts. It's also homecoming at the home school because they don't play football. Both teams are pretty decent and we expect a very competitive game.
The visitors take a big early lead (10+ points in the first quarter). The home team burns up two timeouts in the first period and another one in the second. At halftime its about a 12 point game.
In the third period, the comeback begins and they get the deficit down to about 4 or 5 early in the fourth period. From there, it's up and down the court trading baskets until we get to the last 25 seconds. The visitors hit two free throws to go up by 3. Home team calls their last time out after the second free throw goes in. We get together and remind each other of the situation (who has the clock, someone be sure to note the time on the clock if the shot goes in and the visitors call time out, stay with the shooter, etc. etc.). The home team brings the ball upcourt and immediately looks for a three point shot, but nothing is available (defense really steps out). They work the clock down to less than 10 seconds and there's a drive to the hoop. I watch the ball pass through the net as the clock goes from 7 to 6 seconds. The ball bounces on the floor a couple times before the visitors pick it up. I look at the clock and there's less than 5 seconds. The kid with the ball knows the situation and he just holds the ball while standing out of bounds. Home team has no time outs left and they can only watch as time runs out.
We run off the court after the buzzer and all the fans are screaming at us for not calling a five second violation (not even close). To make matters worse, we have to go through the home team locker room to get to our "room". The home coach comes to the room to ask about the end of the game. I told him what the clock read as the ball went through the hoop and when the kid grabbed the ball there was less than 5 seconds on the clock. The kid did not delay grabbing the ball. It was just a heads up play.
I am definitely glad we talked during the last time out and made sure we had an eye on the clock/shot so we KNEW the situation at the end of the game.
Long story, smart play.
|