Basket Interference

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by jref

Last night I had a varsity game in which I called a foul in the act of shooting on the defense (team B). The ball is half way down, when Team A commits BI by touching the ball in the cylinder. I wave off the basket and give the shooter two shots. The coach of Team B argues that only one shot should be given because of the offensive BI. I stuck with two, I believe I am right and I told the coach the only way a free throw can be taken away is by a lane violation. I would appreciate your input,thanks.

The offensive basket interference removes the possibility of a legal basket scored by team A. The foul is still penalized and since no basket was scored, award two or three shots. (It doesn't matter why there was no basket: either due to an offensive violation or by a poor shot attempt.)

You are also correct that the only away that a free throw attempt can be taken away is by violation. Example: free throw shooter bounces the ball away from him/herself, team A violates by stepping into the lane. Some of these cases could be that the shot is already in the air - so in the strictest sense, the shot attempt wasn't removed, but rather "revoked of it's legal opportunity to remain legal".