With time running out, Team B is down by 3 points. I am the lead. A player from Team B shoots from a place real close to the 3 point line in the Trails zone. The basket goes in. I make eye contact with my partner as he has not signaled anything and he start running down the floor as the new lead. The scorekeeper looks at me with a question mark on his face. I give him a low two finger sign to indicate two points.
Also Team B saw my signal and tried to gain my attention (OK, they were a little assertive). I told their captain that this is a judgement call and coundn't be questioned.
Team A thinking they are about to win the game has taken the ball in bounds and have started down the court to kill the last 5 seconds of the game.
When my partner sees this, he realizes that he didn't make the proper 3 point signal and calls an officials timeout even though the ball is live in the control of team A.
He said he just didn't signal correctly and that it should have been a 3 point basket. Team A didn't like that call because they saw my signal and also heard me say it was a judgement call.
I sold Team A's captain that this was a correctable error and that in the end the right call was made. Then I asked my partner to look up correctable errors in the rule book.
My main problem with all of this was the time out. In seems like it was the right thing to do since it effected the method of play for Team A in the last 5 seconds of the game. Instead of killing the ball for the win, then having an overtime game, they came down the court and scored and won.
I would like your comments on this.
BTW. My partner has just completed his first year and has done outstanding work. He has come a long way and I really enjoy calling with him.
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Damain
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