scoop shot

4.9

A close-range basketball shot made with an underhand scooping motion over a defender

noun
/skuːp ʃɑt/

Jargon

: tiro en scoop

During the game, she executed a perfect scoop shot that surprised everyone.

Examples

With only seconds left, the player used a scoop shot to secure the win.
I thought he came in and did a nice job, drove the paint, and made a nice scoop shot at the rim (in the first half when we were desperate for something to work), and defended with his usual tenacity.

Blog text (24)
He made a quick scoop shot to score over the defender near the basket.

Synonyms

shot

vsscoop shot

289 1.6

An attempt to score in a sport, for example throwing a heavy ball in shot put

is limited to an underhand close range basketball technique

lay-up

vsscoop shot

Jargon

5 3.4

A close shot near the basket in basketball made with one hand, often off the backboard

uses an underhand scooping motion to lift the ball over defenders

basketball shot

vsscoop shot

1 2.0

An attempt to score by throwing the ball into the hoop

is a specific underhand close range technique not any attempt

quick layup

vsscoop shot

Specialized

3.4

A fast basketball shot near the basket taken quickly after a player gets the ball

uses an underhand scooping motion rather than speed

Surface Forms

scoop shot singular

scoop shots plural

Morphology

scoop + shot

The meaning is directly built from 'scoop' (a scooping/lifting motion) plus 'shot' (an attempt to score), so it denotes a shot executed with a scooping motion. Although it's sports-specific vocabulary, the composition is transparent and predictable for a learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

Scoop shot: The basketball term scoop shot is a close-range shot made with a low, underhand motion, like you use your hand to scoop something up. The image of lifting the ball under a defender's arms helps explain why it means a quick underhand attempt 'to score' over a taller player.