A veteran official, prior to a pre-game, discussed this play:

End of game scenario (seconds left). Shot by A-1 and a miss. Four players, 2 "A" Team, 2 "B" team jump for the rebound. The ball is tipped into the basket as the horn sounds to end the game. No discussion regarding the score at the time or whether we are going into overtime. The official now asks if the goal counts. I say sure and he replies maybe not. "Why?" I ask. He replies that if a defender tapped the ball into the goal, without an offensive "A" player touching it, the goal does not count. We are discussing NFHS Rules. That's a new one to me and it was to the other official in the room. Anyone ever hear of this?

No goal, the ball becomes dead when the horn sounds. This was not a try/tap for goal therefore you cannot count it. It has nothing to do with the ball being in the air, it also has to be an attempt.

That scenario came out of an NCAA game. John Clougherty, ACC Director of Officials, talked about it in this thread.

http://www.officialforum.com/thread/24968

It happened in the Virginia Tech/Bowling Green game. The defense tapped a missed shot down low just before the buzzer and it was in the air when the red light came on. It went in after the light came on. Unfortunately, the officials counted it; they didn't notice at that time that the tap came off the defense and not the offense. The NCAA rule is basically the same as the NFHS one- the ball is dead on the light in NCAA unless it a try or tip by the <b>offense</b>.

If you go way back and can find it, there's a thread posted that shows the film of that play.

Would you mind just pointing me to the correct rules reference?

Also, on a pass beyond the 3 point line (alley oop) and the ball passes through the rim untouched - score three points - correct?

[Edited by eventnyc on Feb 18th, 2006 at 10:29 AM]

1) NFHS rule 6-7-6. There is an exception (a) that says that says the ball doesn't become dead if the ball is in the air on a try or tap by the offense when the horn goes. That exception doesn't apply to a ball touched by the defense- unless that touching occurred after a try or tap by the offense was in the air. It also doesn't apply to a non-try or tap, as in case book play 6.7.6SitA. The NCCA rule is the same.

2) Correct. NFHS rule 5-2-1.