I’ve been told several times recently that the box scores I run at the end of each basketball game story are not as easily understood as I thought, so I’m going to let you all in on my box score secrets.
For a high school or middle school game, I print basic box score information, which includes the number of two-point and three-point field goals and free throws made by each player as well as the total points scored by each player.
A box score of 1 (2) 3-4 11 means the player made one two-point basket, two three-point baskets, and three of four free throws for a total of 11 points. If a player’s name is followed by 3 1-1 7, that player made three two-point field goals and their only free throw attempt, finishing with seven points.
After each team’s individual scoring totals are listed, the score by quarters (or halves for college games) is printed.
The line printed here indicates that Skyline (SK) had nine in the first, 11 in the second, 15 in the third and nine in the fourth for a total of 44 points.
SK 9 11 15 9 - 44
When writing about college games, I print expanded box scores, which contain the number of field goals (twos and threes combined) made and attempted, and the traditional free throw and total points numbers.
For example, PCC’s Illiwa Baldwin had this listing after Monday’s game in Colby: Illiwa Baldwin 8-15 7-11 24. That means that Baldwin made eight of 15 field goals and seven of 11 free throws and had 24 points.
If the math isn’t adding up for you, just look a little farther down the page and you’ll find the three-pointers separated out for each team.
At the bottom of the box score, you’ll see a section starting like this:
3-point goals — PCC 7-27 (Smith 4-7, Baldwin 1-2, Rutherford 1-5, Thomas 1-4, Beck 0-9, Gordon 0-1), CCC 4-14 (Stephenson 2-6, Brewer 1-2, Danner 1-2). Rebounds — PCC 41 (Baldwin 15), CCC 37 (Michaelson, Morris 9 each).
That means that PCC made seven of 27 three-pointers, and you’ll see that Baldwin made one of two from long range.
Move a little farther down the page, and you see each team’s total rebounds with their leading rebounder listed. At Colby, PCC had 41 rebounds and Baldwin grabbed a team-high 15. The same formula is followed for assists, and team totals for turnovers and fouls are also printed. The box concludes with a listing of the players who fouled out and any individuals who received technicals.
I enjoy printing box scores because they can contain a wealth of information that might not otherwise fit on the page, but if you, the reader, don’t understand the numbers in the box, none of that information comes through.
Hopefully, I’ve explained this clearly, but please let me know if my explanations didn’t make sense to you and I’ll be happy to answer your questions or just try explaining it again.
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I’ve been told several times recently that the box scores I run at the end of each basketball game story are not as easily understood as I thought, so I’m going to let you all in on my box score secrets.
For a high school or middle school game, I print basic box score information, which includes the number of two-point and three-point field goals and free throws made by each player as well as the total points scored by each player.
A box score of 1 (2) 3-4 11 means the player made one two-point basket, two three-point baskets, and three of four free throws for a total of 11 points. If a player’s name is followed by 3 1-1 7, that player made three two-point field goals and their only free throw attempt, finishing with seven points.
After each team’s individual scoring totals are listed, the score by quarters (or halves for college games) is printed.
The line printed here indicates that Skyline (SK) had nine in the first, 11 in the second, 15 in the third and nine in the fourth for a total of 44 points.
SK 9 11 15 9 - 44
When writing about college games, I print expanded box scores, which contain the number of field goals (twos and threes combined) made and attempted, and the traditional free throw and total points numbers.
For example, PCC’s Illiwa Baldwin had this listing after Monday’s game in Colby: Illiwa Baldwin 8-15 7-11 24. That means that Baldwin made eight of 15 field goals and seven of 11 free throws and had 24 points.
If the math isn’t adding up for you, just look a little farther down the page and you’ll find the three-pointers separated out for each team.
At the bottom of the box score, you’ll see a section starting like this:
3-point goals — PCC 7-27 (Smith 4-7, Baldwin 1-2, Rutherford 1-5, Thomas 1-4, Beck 0-9, Gordon 0-1), CCC 4-14 (Stephenson 2-6, Brewer 1-2, Danner 1-2). Rebounds — PCC 41 (Baldwin 15), CCC 37 (Michaelson, Morris 9 each).
That means that PCC made seven of 27 three-pointers, and you’ll see that Baldwin made one of two from long range.
Move a little farther down the page, and you see each team’s total rebounds with their leading rebounder listed. At Colby, PCC had 41 rebounds and Baldwin grabbed a team-high 15. The same formula is followed for assists, and team totals for turnovers and fouls are also printed. The box concludes with a listing of the players who fouled out and any individuals who received technicals.
I enjoy printing box scores because they can contain a wealth of information that might not otherwise fit on the page, but if you, the reader, don’t understand the numbers in the box, none of that information comes through.
Hopefully, I’ve explained this clearly, but please let me know if my explanations didn’t make sense to you and I’ll be happy to answer your questions or just try explaining it again.
