Now what do we do?
 

This situation occured during a GV Christmas tournament tonight.

To start the second half, the referee of the two person crew blew his whistle, handed the ball to A1 at the division line. The ball was inbounded to A2 who dribbled toward her own goal, attemped a shot, and was fouled in the process. The calling official then looked up at the clock and notices it is still counting down from 10 seconds remaining in the halftime break.

I will stop the action following this opps moment to comment; Yes, the officials were wrong to put the ball in play without checking that the clock had been reset and showed 8:00. Yes, the table should have recognized the error and blown the horn before the ball had been inbounded, but none of this happened.

What should happened next has been the subject of a debate in the officials locker room. One side says this is a do-over, and the second half should be re-started since the halftime period had not ended. The other side says both teams, the coaches, and the officials were ready to go and nobody was put at disadvantage by the starting of the second half even though the clock was not properly reset. The offended player should be awarded her free throws, and some amount of time should be removed from the clock beyond the 8:00 mark.

I agree with the second senerio, but haven't put in the effort to justify it with a rules backup except I've always been told "there are no do-overs in basketball"

So esteemed members of the forum - What is your take on this?

To my knowledge, it's not covered by the rules. What does that tell you? :)

I would count all the action and take time off the clock if I had definite knoeledge.

agree

Years ago, we had this happen to start the second half of a local jr. high boys game. Visitors had the ball. Home stole the throw-in pass, and the buzzer sounded. Play stopped. We whistled the play dead, took one second off the clock, and gave home the ball. Inexcusable, yes, but really of no great consequence, this time.

Just like any other clock error, you fix the clock, if you have definite knowledge, and continue where you stopped the game to deal with the clock. No do over.

+1

Administering official for the throw-in should make visual contact with partner[s] AND timer prior to putting the ball in play. Doesn't always happen, but it can help avoid situations like in the OP.

I'd use case 5.7.3 (last year's reference) to set the clock at 8:00, and continue play from the FTs.

5.7.3 SITUATION: Following a violation in the first extra period, the timer beckons
the referee to the table. The timer informs the referee that by mistake the period
started with: (a) more; or (b) less than four minutes on the clock. RULING: In
(a), if the mistake is discovered before the clock reaches four minutes, the clock
shall be set at four minutes and play resumes. If discovered after reaching four
minutes, no correction is allowed. In (b), the appropriate amount of time shall be
added to reflect a four-minute period. (2-5-5)

When I first read this, I took it to mean that she went the wrong way. Then I read the definition of a shot, and it says an attempt at a team's own goal.

Let's say, hypothetically, that A1 took the ball and ran the wrong way in this situation. B1, also confused, follows A1 to the basket and fouls her, thinking she's supposed to be defending that particular basket.

Would I be correct in ruling that since A1 shot at the wrong basket, it's not a try, therefore the foul would result in a designated spot throw in for A (assuming A1 misses the shot)?

The aforementioned timing issues don't apply to my hypothetical.

Team Fouls, Free Throws ???
 

Later in the half, it could be a one and one, or a double bonus.

Yes - it doesn't matter what the ball does. Since it's not a try the ball is dead. Unless Team A is in the bonus they don't shoot free throws.

Good point.

Still Dead ???
 

Ball in flight?

Yes and even if A1 "made" the "shot", if the foul occurred before the ball passed thru the goal, the foul rendered the ball dead. Can't score with a dead ball and continuous motion does not apply since we have no try.
Thanks for the reminder..