Survive and Advance: Part 2

It's good to know the rules.

With 9.5 seconds left in their quarterfinal match-up, the CYA Dragons, down 26-25, fouled the CYA Hornets' point guard to stop the clock.  Unfortunately, this attempt at stopping the clock and somehow retaining possession of the ball would be the effective, if not the actual, end of the game.

CYA 4th grade basketball rules do not allow back court defense.  For three months we have been watching teams from the sideline inbound the ball to the back court, so the opposing team could not defend the inbound pass.  With the foul in Sunday's game, the Dragons gave the Hornets a sideline inbound pass.  The Hornets' coach astutely double checked the rules, then instructed the point guard to stand in the middle of the back court and wait for a lob pass from the sideline.  The ball sailed high into the air, right to the undefended point guard who casually dribbled the ball as the clock wound down.  With 9.5 seconds left, no timeline violation would be called and the game would end, 26-25 Hornets.  They survived and advanced.

Luckily, the enthusiasm and quest for glory of youth did not destroy this anti-climactic, but joyful end.  Instead of holding or dribbling the ball for 9.5 seconds, the point guard dribbled casually for 7.5 seconds, then advanced to mid court and attempted a pointless half court shot.  For a brief moment, I recalled one of many Washington Wizards losses several years ago, caused by a failed attempt to throw the ball high in the air with less than 2 seconds to play.  The attempt to run out the clock with a random chuck high in the air failed when an opposing player (sadly I don't remember who the Wiz were playing) got a hand on the ball, stole it and made a game winning, buzzer beating 3-point shot.  The call of the Wizards radio play by play man, Steve Buckhantz, still reverberates in the ears of all Wizards' fans.  "NO!  NOT POSSIBLE!"  It is, of course, unlikely a 4th grader would be able to steal the ball and make a half court shot in just one or two seconds.  However, when you have seen the impossible, you don't take anything for granted.

The game was tight throughout.  Although we had the better team, their best player was a little better than our best player,and their second best player was a little better than our second best player.  We took a solid first quarter lead, but they chipped away slowly throughout the game.  10-4 after the first quarter; 16-12 at the half; 20-18 after 3.  Then, the rules came into play for the first time.  I don't know exactly what happened, but the opposing coach messed up his substitutions.  As I am sure is typical for a youth league, we have rules about playing time.  The 4th quarter began with the opposing team's second best player on the bench.  He was subbed in about half way through the quarter, but something went wrong there.  Our coach confirmed this to me after the game, by telling me how the opposing coach tried to push the rules with substitutions.  It's good to know the rules.

The opposing coach did it again at the end.  With those 9.5 seconds sitting on the clock and our team about to inbound the ball, he told one of his players to go cover in the back court.  The ref immediately blew her whistle and said "no back court defense."  The coach incredulously asked, "He can't stand there?"  I sat on my mat on the other side of the court wondering which of the words "no back court defense" this guy was having trouble with.  Yes, it is frustrating to lose because your opponent can inbound the ball and just stand there, but those are the rules.  If you thought it through, you wouldn't have fouled at that point.  That's probably too much to ask, but that's the irony.  Their foul gave us the opportunity to not have to play.  9.5 seconds - one half of a second less than the maximum we could run off without passing mid-court.  It's good to know the rules.

The semifinals were suspended by snow, so we have to wait until Thursday to play again.  Games are getting more stressful and the stakes are getting higher.  March Madness has come with a flurry.  And a snowstorm.

Reflections on What Has Happened

1.  Jared Leto's acceptance speech was excellent.

2.  Really, I think that's enough snow for this winter.

What to Watch For

1. Survive and Advance - Part 3