Where to Inbound the ball???

[Peter Devana]

I had an interesting one last nite in a Varsity Boy's Regional Final. Playing NCAA Men's rules- Team A has a throw in from a designated spot under team B's hoop. 7.4 seconds left in 3rd quarter. Team A successfully inbounds the ball and advances the ball to a spot about 5 feet short of centre-against a very strong press- my partner ,at this point notices that the game clock has not started and blows his whistle. The shot clock was unserviceable at the time so could not help us. My partner thought we should give the ball back to team A at a point closest to where it was when he blew the whistle- I disagreed and took it back to the original spot and began over with 7.4 seconds on the clock.Discussing it later he felt since team a had almost advanced the ball past the press it was fairer to give them back the ball there with7.4 on the clock. I felt that would put team A at an advantageous position closer to their basket. I prevailed. If we had known exactly how much time had passed we could have gone with my partners decision but we didn't. I would be interested in all opinions and a case answer if there is one.