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No ... don't do it
Middle school game, two very lower level teams. Kid gets the ball in the key and throws up a prayer of a shot that goes in. The 30 to 40 fans in the stands go wild. Kid is grinning ear to ear. I'm thinking it's the first basket of his life. Then he grabs the ball coming through the net, turns, and slams it down, bounding away in happiness. I think about for a half second and decide to just warn the kid. He wasn't trying to gain advantage, wasn't trying to showboat or show up the other team. He's just sooo happy. I blow whistle, tell him not to do that again, tell the coach the issue, and he tells the player to leave the ball alone after a score.
Two minutes later, he scores the second basket of his career. And he tracks the ball down again and runs partway down the court in utter glee before finally slamming the ball down. Whack. Coach laughs and gives me the "what can you do?" Shrug.
The other team then violated on both free throws.
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