Late game foul/substitution
 

I've got a situation that did not happen, but I thought of it, and I'm interested in hearing everyone's thoughts.

In a district championship game, team A is losing 59-60 to team B with 10 seconds left in the game and the gym is rockin'. Team A's best player, A1 takes the ball to the hoop, hopes for contact, does not get it, throws up a prayer shot that misses, and the ball lands in the hands of A5 (team A's center who has a career FT percentage of 42%). A5 shoots, misses and gets fouled as time expires. The foul was not hard and A5 does not appear to have suffered any injury whatsoever. In fact, he doesn't even know whats going on. After the officials explain to him that the he needs to shoot two free throws with the lane cleared to win the game, he grabs his arm and says he's hurt.

Team A's coach sends a sophomore (97% FT shooter, played JV all season but has been called up for tournaments) to the scores table to check in and shoot the free throws.

I like the college rule where the other coach can pick a remaining player on the floor to shoot, but in high school the sub comes off the bench to shoot.

What would you do?

Allow the substitution, for we, as officials are not trained as MD's to assess a possible injury. I think if we made them shoot and something was wrong medically with the player, we could be held responsible for allowing a injured player to remain in the game. IMO I believe that the opposing coach should be able to choose a injured players substitute to shoot the FTs. as in the NCAA.

Probably the same thing you did. We are not there to rule on injuries in that situation. If he wants to pull a stunt like that, and his coach backs him up on it, not much you can do.

This situation is exactly what the NBA/NCAA rule was envisioned to prevent.

I'd have no problem with the rule change, but I don't think it happens often enough at that level to worry about it.

If I suspected something, I'd allow it and email the appropriate authority.

But what would you do if it wasn't in the district championship game? :D

I'd do this.

NCAA coaches and players try all kinds of shenanigans, that rarely happens at the high school level. I doubt that rule comes in soon, but it might at some point. HS coaches are not smart enough to try this stuff on the regular. And kids want to play.

Peace

It won't be changed until it happens in some state where it becomes high profile enough...and then NFHS will probably just talk about. NFHS is not in the business of adding exceptions to rules.

You got that right.

Peace

Fwiw, that's an NCAA-M rule, and I've never seen it be an issue in HS or women's games, but I'd support the change for spirit and consistency's sake.