Timing Question

[Robmoz]

Originally posted by BushRef

Do you mean to tell me that when the 4th quarter ends with team A up by 20, you're gonna put the 1.3 back? I can see saying something to the timer about it maybe, but get real!!

Get Real? Sometimes the reality of an obvious clock error has to be corrected, regardless of the score, if anything but to not have the officials look foolish for implementing their own rules (i.e. running clock).

Now, you may want to ask why was your partner blowing a whistle for a violation with 2 seconds left in a game? Perhaps the turnover would impact the outcome. In an obvious 2 or more possession situation a patient whistle coupled with clock awareness could have avoided this whole problem.

Likewise, in a tight contest, game situational awareness is soooooooo important (time remaining, timeouts remaining, anticipated play, etc.) you need to be prepared and ready to act decisively and correctly.

[TXMATTHEW05]

We could avoid everything in question here if we just don't look at the clock

[Nevadaref]

How wonderful that you posted this thread, lrpalmer3! I'll consider it my Christmas present. I have been away from the board for a few days this past week as I worked a varsity boys tournament and naturally this exact timing issue came up in two games. I was not on the floor for either game, but in each case the Referee was a personal friend who has worked the 4A boys state final in the previous four years. Each is a quality official and good man, however each Referee mishandled the NFHS lag-time rule in a situation that was important and could have changed the outcome of the game.

A. 1/4 final: Team A scores to take a 61-59 lead and Team B coach requests a TO. The Referee blows the whistle with 2.2 seconds on the clock, but it runs down to 1.0 seconds. He reset it to 2.0, fortunately Team B was unable to score on the final possession. He later agreed that 2.2 was the correct reset and that under NFHS rules a single second or less can never be added to the clock in a lag-time stopping situation. An adjustment should only be made if MORE THAN ONE SECOND will be added.
B. Final: Team A scores to take a 43-42 lead and Team B requests TO when the official can see 4.5 on the game clock. The clock is stopped at 3.5 seconds. The R reset it to 4.5 seconds. He later admitted that he forgot about the lag time rule entirely, and shouldn't have adjusted the clock at all. Again it was fortunate that Team B missed a shot at the buzzer.

Sadly, I was probably the only one in the building that realized either mistake.
Additionally, there is an interp on the website this year that deals with lag time quite clearly. Hopefully, it will make the case book next year. Here it is:

2004-05 NFHS Basketball Rules Interpretations Release Date: 10/8/04

SITUATION 8: As the official calls a traveling violation, he/she properly sounds the whistle and gives the signal to stop the clock. While doing this, the official is able to see the exact time remaining in the fourth quarter. The clock shows 55 seconds remaining. The timer stops the clock: (a) at 55 seconds; (b) at 54 seconds; (c) at 53 seconds; or (d) 50 seconds. RULING: In (a) and (b), there has been no obvious timing mistake. The timer should be able to react and stop the clock in one second when the whistle is heard and/or the signal is seen. However, in (c) and (d), more than one second of time elapsed from the time the signal was given until the clock was stopped. The referee will order 55 seconds put on the clock in (c) and (d). COMMENT: By interpretation, “lag or reaction” time is limited to one second when the official’s signal is heard and/or seen clearly. The rules do not permit the referee to correct situations resulting in normal reaction time of the timer which results in a “lag” in stopping the clock. Additional time which may subsequently run off the clock (after the one second lag time) is considered a timing mistake and may be corrected. (5-10-1)