[eventnyc]

In my first season as an official, I had a similar situation happen to me. I believe I may have posted my experience on this board four years ago. I, as the trail, observed a fast break (one on one) coming down towards the lead. The lead was on the opposite side of the break and made it to the end line. I was no more than fifteen feet away from the two players driving the left side of the lane. As the offensive player went up to layup the ball, the defensive player hit his arm just prior to the release. The hit was ever so slight however there was definite contact. The horn and my whistle sounded at the same time as the ball went toward the rim. In my opinion, that foul caused the miss. We cleared the lane and the free throw won the game. On the way back to the locker room my partner told me that the call took a lot of balls to make. I was a rookie and was somewhat disappointed that he said that. I explained that I saw the fould and called it. He told me he wasn't questioning my observance of the foul, just my calling it with practically no time left on the clock. I haven't changed my thinking. I'd still call it today. Why would we as officials, penalize the offensive player who is attempting to win a game with a last minute attempt and not call a foul? Like I said, in my opinion that slight contact threw the shot off course.