A look at a free throw being shot will provide a glimpse of the primary rule change to hit the high school basketball world this season.

Through the change, the number of marked spaces along the lane that can be occupied during free throws has been reduced from eight to six, with a maximum of four defensive players and two offensive players.

The lane spaces closest to the free-throw line (and the shooter) must remain vacant.

As has been the case in the past, the two spaces nearest the basket must be occupied by defenders.

The goal of this change, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations, is to further reduce rough play in free-throw situations, but much of that problem was alleviated several years ago when a rule change mandated that no one could enter the lane until a free throw hits the rim.

Maine basketball commissioner Peter Webb said this marks the fifth straight year without a major rule change.

“That says something good about the state of the game,” he said.

Officials are being directed to focus on several points of emphasis this season.

. Rough play, including hand-checking, illegal screens, and post play;

. Free-throw administration, in particular disconcertion of the free-throw shooter;

. Substituting after a player is disqualified from a game or forced to leave due to injury or blood situation. These 30-second periods are designed merely to make a substitution, Webb said, not as an additional timeout for strategy purposes;

. Intentional fouls. When a player fouls and the opponent is clearly not playing the ball, an intentional foul must be called.

. On-court behavior, in particular taunting and self-promotion. “I’m sure it’s greater in other places,” Webb said, “but we’re not free of it.”

All in all, the commissioner is pleased with the state of the sport in Maine as the 2003-04 season is set to begin Friday in Classes B, C and D.

“Basketball here in Maine is in pretty good order,” Webb said, “no matter what perspective you look at it from.”

MABC free-throw qualifiers set

The Maine Association of Basketball Coaches will conduct its annual state free-throw shooting contest regional qualifying events from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, 2004, at four sites around the state.

The northern Maine qualifier will be held at Washburn High School; the eastern qualifier at Camden Hills High School in Rockport; the central qualifier at Waterville High School, and the southern qualifier at Greely High School in Cumberland Center.

The top male and female finisher at each regional will advance to the state free-throw contest to be held March 20, 2004, in conjunction with the annual McDonald’s Senior All-Star Weekend.

Bourassa earns Gatorade honor

Biddeford senior Phil Bourassa has been named Maine’s 2003 Gatorade Circle of Champions high school football player of the year.

Bourassa, a 5-foot-11, 160-pound quarterback and defensive back, led the Tigers to a 10-1 record and a second straight berth in the Western Maine Class A final.

Bourassa rushed for 1,025 yards and 11 touchdowns while passing for 1,244 yards and 15 touchdowns as the Tigers earned the No. 1 seed in Western A and advanced to the regional final before being defeated by eventual state champion Deering of Portland.

Bourassa also was a standout on the Biddeford special teams, returning two punts for touchdowns.

Academically, Bourassa has a 3.2 grade point average.

The recipient of the Dave Allen Award as Western A’s most valuable player, Bourassa is a semifinalist for the Fitzpatrick Trophy, which is awarded annually to the state’s top player. The three finalists for the Fitzy will be announced Dec. 21.

Ernie Clark may be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net