What would you do?
 

Three person crew. First half. A1 drives from wing on C side and gets to about one step outside of free throw line elbow, rises up. At about the same time, A2 flashes along baseline WIDE OPEN from L side corner. As A1 begins his motion, he is fouled by B1 (C has call) and ball is blocked by B2. It appeared to me as from my angle at L that A1 was attempting to pass to A2 cutting to basket.

C reports the foul on B1 and signals 2 shots. While he was reporting, the T and I and team A players had begun to set up for a throw in and not a free throw. Coach of A starts yelling, he wasn't shooting, ask your partners, etc. C turns from the table and signals two shots for A1.

We then lined up the players to have A1 shoot free throws.

At halftime, I asked the C if he had seen A2 flash to the basket. He said no he did not and that is why he believed A1 was shooting and not passing. He told me if he had seen A2, he probably would not have awarded the free throws because "the angle of the try was very low and looked weird." He said at the time he thought the foul caused the low angle to happen. The T said at half he also thought that A1 was attempting to pass.

My question is, since at the time, the T and I thought A1 was attempting to pass, should we have gone to the C at the time and ask him about the play and tell him about A2, or should we have gone with the call like we did since it was the C's call?

H.t.b.t.
 

HTBH HTBH HTBH HTBH HTBH HTBH

I would say that you could CERTAINLY go to your partner and insist on offering information that you feel is pertinant to get the play right.

or you could...

...CERTAINLY support your partner's call 100% based on the game situation, their credibility, your crew's credibility.

or even...

...offer partner an out with an offer "Partner, do you want my information on that call?"

HTBT

Nothing wrong with having a quick chat and providing some extra information, but in the end this is your partner's decision to make.

You could go to him if you have definite knowledge. I see nothing wrong with that. But then again, it is still up to the official making the call. For the most part I do not get into the judgment of other officials unless there was a clear pass off attempt. I have only had one time in my career where this was even an issue in a 3 person system that I can think of.

Peace

C should tell the other two officials the call and whether it's a FT or a TI before he leaves the area. Then, you (as a crew) don't have the confusion and it helps defuse the coach's complaints.

Thanks for the responses. Looking at the tape, the C goes right to the table with the call and trail and he just pass each other without conversation. Basically, we are all just moving to what we believed was the next position. I will incorporate communicating to the crew before reporting to the table into my pregame. Thanks again.

Stay healthy!!!

I never offer help in this situation, as it's a judgment call. If my partner judges it differently than I did, so be it. It's his call.