Intentionally missing a free throw ?

[Mark Padgett]

Just a few weeks ago, a partner told me he had a kid do this successfully (throw the ball off the rim on a free throw, catch it and immediately put it back in) to tie the game with just a few seconds left, but he had to disallow it on a violation because the shooter went over the line just a split second early. My partner said his call was really an "automatic reaction". He said he blew the whistle just as the ball was hitting the rim but the kid continued with the play because it all happened so fast.

I asked him if he called the violation just to try to avoid an OT. He just smiled, not to mean that's what happened, but to recognize that it was me asking the question.