Whatever happened to the free throw?

[g w mclintock]

I've noticed all season that the percentage of foul shots made is getting lower. For fun, I checked the 3 high school game stats in today's Athens Messenger. Here are the results:

Wellston 18-28 64%
Nelsonville York 15-22 68%

Vinton County 15-28 54%
Athens 7-11 64%

Waterford 11-21 52%
Federal Hocking 5-12 42% (Interesting - 2 pt % was 43.8% & 3 pt % was 55.6%)

Totals 71-122 58%

Assuming that teams should hit 70% from the charity stripe, that 3-5 more points each team could have had. 2 of these 3 games were determined by less than 4 points...

Thoughts?

[ssusoccer]

When was the last time you seen a free throw shot highlighted on ESPN?

[Ironman92]

Go watch kids in 3rd-12th grades shoot around......3 point line and crazy shots are most of what they do.

You could be a good 10-17 foot shooter and kill these kids in a game of HORSE.

[CharlieHustle]

I think it starts at a young age, young (and some older) players do not understand the importance of the free throw. They watch the NBA and would rather practice three-pointers and throwing alley-oops to each other. When in my opinion, practicing and mastering the free throw at an early age will tremendously improve your jumpshot and three-pointers because free-throws emphasize your shooting-form.

[Sid Farkus]

Heard last night that former Vinton County player Tori Dixon was 36 out of 36 from the free throw line at Marietta College this year.

[caglewis]

See the Ironton - Waverly Game which just finished!! Ironton was 11 of 12 FT's in the 2nd half and Zac Carter was 6 for 6 in OT - Making FT's WON the game for Ironton!

[The D]

shaq happened...

[Raiderball]

Go watch kids in 3rd-12th grades shoot around......3 point line and crazy shots are most of what they do.

You could be a good 10-17 foot shooter and kill these kids in a game of HORSE.

TRUE statement I92

[The Ghost of Swanker]

watch those same kids in 3rd through 12th and count how many times they say "and 1".. you dont shoot free throws in pickup games, you check up.