The three point shot has been in basketball since 1984 in College and 1987 in high school.

Teams have continually made the same mistakes concerning the 3 pointer when a team is ahead by 3 and the team behind has the ball with under 6 seconds to go in the game.

Both teams in the bonus. The defense does not foul and the offense hits a three pointer to send the game into overtime.

Fouling the player with the ball when he commits the first dribble forces the foul shooter to make the first foul shot, miss the second intentionally try to get the rebound and try to score to tie the game.

In all the years the 3 pointer has been in the game at all levels, I have never seen a team tie the game by intentionally missing the second foul shot.

This is because four things have to happen 1. Make the first foul shot 2. Intentionally miss the second foul shot 3. Get the rebound 4. Then Score.

However, I have seen many games tied by allowing a 3 point attempt or fouling the 3 point shooter.

Teams should practice how to foul in this situation. The foul should happen as soon as a player with the ball takes the first dribble. The correct technique for fouling the player is to try to steal the ball and if not successful then reach across the dribbler’s body making contact after attempting to play the ball.

Teams need to practice missing the second shot. I have seen the following when a player tries intentionally to miss the second foul shot. 1. Ball hits the backboard without hitting the rim, 2. An air ball 3. Ball thrown hard at the rim so that it bounces out of the free throw lane 4. Ball goes in. 5 Offensive Lane/line violations.

The correct way to shoot this intentionally missed foul shot is to shoot the ball with a soft high arc and try to have it hit the back of the rim so that it will remain near the basket so that the 2 offensive players lined up in the second lane spaces from the basket have a chance to get the rebound so the rebounder gets a shot off or a tip in trying to tie the game.

Another important thing that should be practiced if the team shooting the foul shot cannot get the offensive rebound or control an attempted tip. The rebounder should try to tip the ball to a teammate or to the foul shooter.

If a two is needed to tie the game, the non free throw lane space players should be lined up just behind the foul line outside the 3 point line on each side of the foul shooter.

They cannot be below the free throw line extended, and cannot go over the 3 point line until the ball hits the rim. The 2 players on the second lane spaces can enter the lane as soon as the foul shooter releases the ball.

The rebounder tries to tip the ball to either of the players who come from outside the 3 point line in position to receive the tip. The foul shooter should back up from the foul line as soon as the ball hits the rim to be in position to receive a tip.

This gives the two rebounders three teammates to tip the ball to so that they can attempt a tying two pointer. If a three pointer is needed the three players should be behind the 3 point line.

All these strategies need to be practiced.

IN FACT, IF VILLANOVA HAD FOULED UP 3 WITH 6 SECONDS TO GO AS THE BALL WAS DRIBBLED ACROSS MIDCOURT WE WOULD NEVER HAVE SEEN THOSE TWO GREAT 3 POUINT BASKETS, ESPECIALLY THE DOUBLE PUMP BY NORTH CAROLINA’S MARCU PAIGE OR THE GAME WINNING PLAY BY VILLANOVA TO SET UP KRIS JENKINS FOR THE PEN 3 GAME WINNER.

With the NBA Playoffs Coming up, watch to see what teams ahead do in this situation when the
answer to Basketball’s Shakespeare Question is obvious. FOUL, FOUL, FOUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trivia Question: Has a player ever scored the first 2 points in each QF-SF-F Eastern Maine Tournament games?