Game Winner
 

State Tournament last night. Quarterfinals. Team A up by one. 3.7 seconds left. A has inbounds throw in at half court. A1 runs into the back court, catches pass and shoots a lay up into wrong goal. Team A looses by 1 point. Couldn't believe it.

How does one "loose"?

Did the ball go all the way through the basket before the buzzer, or did the shot just leave the shooter's hand before the buzzer?

Holy crap.

I know it was released, prior to the horn, don't know if it was all the way through. If this makes a difference please explain.

Since it wasn't a try, the ball is dead as soon as the period ends. So, it comes down to the timing of the period ending and the ball passing through the basket.

Ok. That makes sense. I knew it wasn't a try.

I wonder if there is video anywhere.

Don't know. Oklahoma Boys 3A Quarterfinal. Hugo vs Millwood.

until I see video, I refuse to beleive this happened. That is just too crazy.

Made the USA today website.

Game Winner

Can you imagine being the trail on this play...recognizing that he's "shooting" in the wrong basket....seeing him release the "shot" prior to the buzzer...realize the ball was not scored PRIOR to the buzzer....AND WAVING IT OFF!!!!

I'd like to say I would get this play right as it happens, but I don't think I could process all that in real time.

Talk about a "fun" time explaining that rule to the losing coach!!!!!

Probably just reporter-speak, but if this is how it played out would it not count?



YUKON — Hugo guard Trey Johnson bolted away from his defender, securing the ball with enough space to securely run out the final 2.9 seconds.

The Buffaloes led perennial state power Millwood 37-36 in the closing moments of Thursday night's Class 3A state quarterfinals. All they needed was an accurate inbounds pass to complete the wild upset. And they got it.

But what happened next, in one stunning moment filled with jubilation and arena-wide disbelief, flipped the end result on its head, leading to a 38-37 Millwood win and heartbreaking Hugo defeat.

Johnson received the inbounds pass heading toward his own hoop, needing only an innocent dribble or two to close it out. But instead, in a moment of confusion (as his coach would explain it), Johnson lofted a layup toward his own basket, thinking he was going the other way.

“When I saw the kid going that way, I was like, ‘No, he's not. No, he's not ... Oh, yes he is,'” Millwood assistant coach David Samilton recalled. "I couldn't believe it.”

As the buzzer went off, Johnson's layup fell through. And for a brief moment, the entire arena fell silent.

Hugo's raucous crowd went still. Millwood's previously disheartened group of fans took a moment for reassurance, before breaking out in a wild celebration fit for this unlikely of an escape job.

“That was truly a miracle,” Samilton would say.

But on the other end of the emotional spectrum lay Johnson and his heartbroken teammates, brought to tears by an unfortunate mistake.

“Without a doubt, that's the toughest locker room I've ever had to talk to,” Hugo coach Darnell Shanklin said.

Johnson, in particular, was tough to console. The junior had played energized and effective for more than 31 minutes, helping key an impressive defensive effort.

But that final play, two of the four points he was credited with on the night, is the one that will stick through a tough offseason.

“He gives you 100 percent all the time,” Shanklin said. “Heart goes out to the kid because he feels bad. He feels really, really bad.”

With the loss, Hugo finishes the season at 21-7. Millwood (16-9), meanwhile, hopes to ride this momentous luck into Friday's semifinal game against two-time defending state champ Centennial. Tip is at 9 p.m. at State Fair Arena.

“I feel sorry for him,” Samilton said. “Just like Chris Webber, when he called the timeout. I really do feel sorry for him. But hey, I'll take it.”

Always trust reporting - there's never a mistake...

"two of the four points he was credited with on the night" - um... no.

To answer the other question, if the ball was passing through when the buzzer went off, no basket. If it had just passed through, 2 pts. Judging by the other casual reporting as quoted above, I don't think we can take "fell through" to be 100% solid evidence.

I noticed the officiating crew was a college crew. Maybe they didn't know the rule? Who knows.

And, did you see the ball they were using? One of those balls with the deep channels all the way around the ball - resembles Scottie Pippen's bald head. Didn't think those were NFHS approved.

They aren't college guys, only 2 man crews here except for big schools. In fact I know the guy in the picture. We all wear the panel shirts. Also the Wilson Wave is the "Official Ball" during the playoffs. This is the only ball allowed during the playoffs.

looks like it was clearly through the basket before the horn in the video.

Why does the state want teams to use a different ball in the playoffs than during the reg season? Does anything go during the regular season and that is a way to make sure all teams use the same ball during the tournament?

During the regular season the home team is responsible for providing the game ball. This is the first year the Wave has been used. We were using the Reebok, but that ball isn't very good. Interesting thing. Last year home team didn't have any Reebok balls, had some Wilsons. visiting team said that the official ball was the Reebok, and we had to use it. Wanted to use his. I told him no, only during the playoffs. He got mad said we were wrong. So we started with the Wilson. He was up 22-0 before home team scored. Then the next day he called me and said we were right. He called the State Association.

?? what video ??

If someone wants to post the video. Go to the link I posted. Game winner. The video is there. Millwood vs Hugo Upset.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yNW9Q_Xnzhs?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Yeah, he scored on his own team. I did a frame-by-frame. The ball passes through the basket with 0:01.6 on the clock. Poor kid.

Yup, I agree - ball was completely through.

Not only does the shot beat the horn, it appears there was still .9 secs left on the clock.

The people near the camera are hilarious:

"I'm about to get something amaaaaazing."
"ESPN"
"Yuuuup"
"Oh, they in a zone."
SHOT GOES IN
"Oh, he stooopid."

LOL

What's crazy is it looks like they executed just what the coach drew up. Why would they be inbounding it toward the opponent's basket? That makes no sense. Poor kid.

Here's the still. The arrow is the ball after it passed through the goal.

http://i47.tinypic.com/ruxrbl.png

They must have been watching the Lakers/Hornets game and got it backwards....LOL

Yikes. Poor kid. This would probably be the only time you'll hear a coach insisting that his guy travelled.

What's more: A friend of mine sent me this link via a Deadspin story. The story's headline and text said the kid scored in his "own basket." I emailed the author to politely point out his error.

His reply: "I'm sure you're absolutely correct, but I think I'm going to leave it. 'His Own' just sounds so much more natural, as if it's the one his team defends." Double yikes!

story on it
Hugo's Trey Johnson not alone with pain | News OK

I had this happen, although not as dramatic and in a JV game. I learned about rules concerning a wrong basket attempt after that!

Team A was up, inbounds pass and player went wrong way and got fouled in the act of shooting and the ball went in. Now, not knowing the rules and it was really close whether or not the ball was in or not, we counted the basket and then had the player go back to the correct end and shoot FTs. I can't remember if it was 1- like an And 1 play, or the correct way which would be bonus.
Anyways good learning experience and bonehead plays can happen at any level. Luckily, for the player his team won the game.

Couple of interesting comments after the article.


The rule should be changed to out of bounds if you score in the wrong basket to keep this absurdity from happening.


Is it possible for the other team to decline the points?

I see no reason to change it. The kid scored - just not for his team. Why should the rules save them from themselves for something so fundamental? Now if it weren't already in the rules, I doubt I'd argue for it to be created but already being there? I kinda like that there's a tangible price for such an elemental mistake. :)

NBA Violation ???
 

Doesn't the NBA already have such a rule, or a similar rule, in place?

It's a violation, under NBA rules, to attempt to score in the wrong basket. Ball is awarded to the opponent at the free throw line extended.

So the NBA rule essentially is NOT to punish stupidity?

No. It's for gambling purposes.

(Team is up by 6, line is -5, player scores in wrong basket changing the winners / losers).

It's an integrity of the game issue...if this play would have happened in an NBA game, you best believe there would be cries of fixing the game or point shaving by the player...no matter the validity. This rule doesn't apply to situations like during a rebound when a player may accidently tap the ball into the wrong basket.

Tap Dancing ???
 

Sounds a little like the, now defunct, mid twentieth century NFHS rule that told us that a tap was not the same as a try.

A tap is still not the same as a try. That's why NFHS rules define both terms.

Nor is it a distinction without a difference. You can score on a tap with .3 seconds on the clock.

Misty Water Color Memories ...
 

Good point, I apologize if I confused anybody, especially the young'uns.

I was referring to the olden days when a player fouled in the act of tapping a ball toward the basket was either awarded the ball out of bounds, or a one and one, and was not awarded two shots, because a tap wasn't treated the same as a try in terms of the act of shooting.

At least that's how I remember it. I'm sure that Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. will be moseying along shortly to confirm, or deny, my statement.

The blue team, Millwood went on to win the state championship in triple overtime last night. Unbelievable when you think about what it took to get them there.