I really appreciate the feedback! You ladies are wonderful.
Just for clarification, I'm asking what you would call the thing out in your yard or beside your driveway--the thing that includes the pole, the backboard, the rim and the net.
I finally got in touch with my nephew who was the UK Wildcat when he was in college. He said (without hesitation) in KY it's called a basketball goal.
I asked my son, who's lived all his 35 years in KY and went to UK. He said he's heard both. If it's a rim and net that's nailed to the side of a barn, then it's more likely to be called a hoop. If it's the whole thing, then it's more likely to be called a goal.
Marcia, thanks for checking with your son. (Great resource!)
And Katie, thanks for asking your dad. (I can see where you got your great sense of humor. Assuming you weren't misquoting him.
) Yes, your sentence--"Ev, you run down to the far goal and I'll inbound the ball."--sounded fine to me. Thank you for your other good suggestions of folks to ask.
As for the action during a game, yes, Robin, we'd be likely to say things like "he scored a basket," "he's under the basket," "it's a 3-pointer," and even "he's driving to the hoop." Not "he scored a goal." But the thing out in your backyard is usually a basketball goal if you're in KY. (At least, that's seeming to be the consensus and not just my own personal way of saying things.)
Thank you to those of you who made the distinction between regionally correct vs. universal. I think I need to ask my editor which she's wanting (when she gets back from her honeymoon!).