Many complain that the final stages of close baseball games can take way too long for various reasons, but how about some basketball contests?
The final two minutes or so of close outings in that sport can last nearly 30 minutes or more. The reasons? Multiple strategical timeouts are called and many strategical fouls are committed, resulting in scads of free throws attempted, as well.
The final minute of the recent boys high-school basketball game between the Langley Saxons and McLean Highlanders went on and on and on, lasting about 20 minutes. There was timeout after timeout after timeout, and foul shot after foul shot after foul shot taken.
In the final 10 seconds there were three timeouts called.
Do all of those delays add to the suspense of a close game or put an end to the suspense instead, because the ending is so drawn out?
Plus, is it really any fun to watch free throw after free throw after free throw?
Just wondering.
– Dave Facinoli
dfacinoli@sungazette.net