Student's $10K Half-Court Shot Blocked by Fine Print

Jack Lavery, a freshman at West Chester University, thought he'd won $10,000 by making a shot from halfcourt during a halftime contest of a game against Shippensburg on Saturday.

Until he saw the fine print.

Lavery, who was randomly selected for the challenge, had 25 seconds to make a layup, a free throw, a three-pointer and a shot from halfcourt. He easily made the first three. He then missed on his first attempt from midcourt, raced to get the rebound, and while the announcer was counting down the seconds, hit a one-handed buzzer-beater.

Show him the money, right?

Not so fast.

According to the contract that Lavery signed before the contest, which was obtained by "Action News," he could take as many shots as needed to make any of the first three shots. But "no more than ONE (1) attempt may be made at the HALF COURT shot, provided that there is still time left on the shot clock."

"This is really tough for me honestly," Lavery told NBC. "After all that celebration, they told me I'm not going to get it. I feel a little hurt."

Lavery's family is fighting the ruling. However, West Chester athletic director Edward Matejkovic told "Action News" that Lavery, who played basketball at Hatboro-Horsham High, was aware he could only take one shot from midcourt.

That may be so, but some at Hollinger Field House were seemingly not as aware of the rules.

If they had been, Lavery would not have been permitted to take that second halfcourt shot. And the announcer would not have continued the countdown after the first miss.

There is a lot of social-media buzz about the incident, so who knows what will happen?

Rules, as someone once said, are make to be broken.

Hits shot, gets 'paid'

Michael Quin, 53, of Springfield, Mo., also sank a big shot during a halftime contest on Saturday. This was at the College of the Ozarks, and he nailed a three-pointer to win a year's worth of McDonald's Value Meals.

And get this: He's blind. Imagine telling him he didn't read the contract.