With 1.4 seconds left in the half, team A has a spot throw-in at the end line. The administering official hands the ball to the thrower-in. She makes a long pass to a teammate who throws up a half court shot that goes in the basket. PROBLEM. A crew member was at the scorers table talking to the table personnel at the time of the throw-in and the clock never started.

Basket's good. It's a timing error by the timer and now you have two officials with some 'splaining to do.

Ouch!!! First, this is lousy communication between refs.

My ruling:
NFHS - Unless you have definite knowledge ... either count it, and inbound going the other way with 1.4 seconds left or disallow the basket and start half-time. Did the play take long than 1.4 seconds? Probably. Unless you have definite knowledge, you cannot run time off the clock.

NCAA - I think this is a do over. Erase the score and the original team inbounds again from the endline with 1.4 seconds on the clock.

I didn't see the game. This was a ncaa game. What rule ref. for the do-over?

Bart,

Twice last week my good partner (two-man) administered the ball without seeing me 1.)talking to a coach and 2.) moving cheerleaders.
In neither case did we restart.

In the interest of continuity, I would not restart in your given sitch.

Shame on that brain cramp!
Very ugly and with lotsa potential for uglier.

I like Trigger's explanation.
mick

I agree with Trigger as well. Let's say that the one official wasn't at the scorer's table and no time ran off the clock, wouldn't you count the basket? I would do the same in this situation.

ruling
 

The NCAA has the following interpretation of the game situation on the ARBITER yesterday. First and foremost the administering official SHOULD HAVE NOT GIVEN THE BALL TO THE THROWER IN UNTIL PERMANENT EYE CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED WITH THE OTHER CREW MEMBERS The official on table side should not be engaging in unnecessary conversation with the scoring table with 1.4 seconds left in the half regarding their actions throughout the half. That can wait until half time or should have been addressed much sooner if it was a DISTRACTION. The official in the slot position should have been managing the clock and upon seeing the clock did not start at the proper time should blow the whistle to stop play. The Interpretation follows. Cancel the basket and give the ball back to the team that had the basket cancelled Finish the half with 1.4 seconds on the clock. The NCAA claims that it is not possible to throw the ball almost to half court, catch the ball, take 1 dribble and score in 1.4 seconds. It would be my hope we NEVER have to rule on such a play in the future. CONCENTRATE AT ALL TIMES.

Bart,
Glad to hear it wasn't you involved, wasn't me either. I would hate to be the guys involved.

While I am glad it wasn't me, I am sure the officials were very good. It doesn't matter how good you are, you will make mistakes. You loose your focus for a moment and BOOM, something happens. Anyway, I'm sure we will find out who was working the game.

I think you would have to probably do this over. I realize it might not be the popular thing to do. How do you know the shot was in time? At least that would be a valid claim. All officials were not ready and you need to make sure they are all ready. Either way someone is going to be really upset.

The NCAA claims it's not possible from a spot throw-in to throw the ball to halfcourt, catch, dribble once, and shoot in less than 1.4 seconds?

Oops.

Right or wrong, the boss is still the boss.

Why would it not be possible? The clock doesn't start until the ball is touched by a player in-bounds does it? I think a player could get a shot off in 1.4 seconds.

Where did they say this?

The ruling is consistent with the (NCAAW) ruling a couple of years ago about shooting a FT while another official is administering the 5th foul (getting one player out and the other in). If the officials (all of them) aren't "ready" the ball can't be put in play.

Well, the catch/shoot part takes at least 0.4 The catch/release dribble should also take at least 0.4. Each dribble takes a finite amount of time...say at least 0.5 (not sure, just suggesting). We're at 1.3 seconds in the most optimum case. It often takes a little longer to "control" a long pass and to shoot a long shot than it does a shot one. I'd say that while it may not be impossible, it is highly unlikely to catch-dribble-shoot in 1.4.