PRINT ADS

Ever since high school basketball changed its rules prior to the 1997-98 season preventing players from entering the lane on free throws until the ball hit the rim, offensive players on free throws have been at a greater advantage. That advantage seems to have finally swung back to the defense 11 years later, as high school will change to the free-throw alignment used at the college level for this winter's season.

Prior to 97-98, players were allowed to enter the lane when the ball left the shooter's hand. Allowing only three defensive and two offensive players in the spots along the lane has come into play since then. Those players will now occupy the second through fourth lane spaces. The rule has been used in summer leagues and tournaments, according to Onalaska girls coach Rob Vieaux.

“It's something that's been needed for a while,” Holmen boys coach Steve Blank said. “Will it clean up some of the physicality in that area? Probably not, but it will definitely help.

“With the old rule if the underneath guy got pushed at all, he lost the advantage. This should give the defense the advantage again. If the ball used to come off hard at all the offense actually had the advantage.”

Vieaux said the change also will negate the occassional play where a long rebound off a badly missed short free throw went right back to the shooter.

“Without a doubt it's a good change, but it's also going to make it harder to box out,” Vieaux said. “There's going to be more room to go around the bottom spot from the second spot.

“It will make it less physical and it'll be a truer reflection of who should get rebounds. It's going to take quickness again to have a chance to get a rebound again. And I'd still prefer they go back to leaving on the release.”

Incoming Onalaska boys coach Craig Kowal also preferred leaving on the release, but doesn't anticipate a change back to that rule. Kowal also would like to see Wisconsin go to 18-minute halves, but doesn't expect that change anytime soon.

“I like being able to create offense off offensive rebounds by drawing up plays and hoping to get a putback” Kowal said. “Now you're just hoping to get a long rebound.

“But the offense had a huge advantage on the missed free throw last year. The guy in the lowest spot should have the best chance to get the defensive rebound.”

Holmen girls coach Duane Vike, like Blank, has been around long enough as a coach to see have seen both variations, leaving before and after the release.

“This is the best rule change for girls since they went to the smaller ball,” Vike said. “It was really a disadvantage for girls getting pinned underneath the bucket. The girls game isn't about getting to the rim.”

While most area coaches seem to be in favor of the change, it will favor the smaller team over the bigger team. Enter Luther's boys and new head coach Brad Schaper.

“Taking the bottom spot out of play is even more of a benefit for us,” Schaper said. “It'll help a team like us that doesn't have a lot of 6-4 and 6-5 guys along the baseline. It'll take a little adjustment, but it should open up that part of the floor..”

Luther girls coach Joel Babinec, who may have one of the tallest teams in the area this winter in relation to his opponents, think the rules will have the least effect.

“It definitely does give the advantage to the defensive player,” Babinec said. “But I also don't think it's a huge change or that it'll have a huge effect on games.”