Let’s keep the shot clock out of high school basketball!
High school basketball is in full swing across the country. It’s one reason why December is such an exciting time of year.
But away from the action, a nationwide debate is taking place: Should the shot clock be instituted nationally?
I hope the shot clock never happens!
Nine states already have adopted the clock in varsity competition–California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. In my home state, Kentucky, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) is keeping the shot clock out of the game–at least for now.
I draw that conclusion for three reasons. First, I want to give smaller schools a fighting chance. Second, I think stalling in basketball isn’t as big a deal as it’s often portrayed. And, third, I think it’s impractical to institute the clock.
Small Schools and the Shot Clock
Dawson Springs (left) v. Henderson County in 2017 KHSAA Regional action (photo, The Gleaner)
Vast differences in school size are evident in every KSHAA region. Consider two examples.
In Region One, Paducah’s McCracken County High School has an enrollment of over 2000 students. Fulton City, another Region One school, enrolls fewer than a hundred students. It’s the same way in Region Two: Henderson County has 2000 students, while Dawson Springs has 197.
Schools like Fulton and Dawson Springs won’t have a chance against larger schools unless than have the ability to dictate game-tempo, including playing a half-court game.
That’s exactly what happened last year in the Regional Tournament when Dawson Springs met Henderson County. The smaller Panthers hung around by slowing down the tempo, forcing the more athletic Colonels to play in the half-court.
Dawson Springs eventually lost, but the Panthers were able to make a game of it.
What’s the Concern About “Stalling?”
While slowing down the tempo and “stalling” can give smaller schools an advantage, it rarely works as a game-winning strategy. Why? It’s a matter of the players’ skills level.
Allen County committed 29 turnovers against Russellville. (photo, News Democrat Leader)
Unlike in college and professional basketball, ball handlers at the high school level can usually be described as ‘proficient’ … at best. If a team opts for a half-court style, something usually ‘gives’ eventually.
A prime example is a game I covered a couple of weeks ago between Allen County and Russellville. Allen County tried to slow down the tempo of the game and Russellville responded with a full-court press. What happened? Allen County committed a whopping 29 turnovers and Russellville won the game, 53-45.
Because many high school players aren’t adept ball handlers, current rules (e.g., the five-second closely-guarded rule and the 10-second backcourt limit) are sufficient to control a game. A shot clock isn’t needed.
Shot Clocks are Impractical
Shot clocks aren’t cheap. They cost anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000, according to Daktronics representative, Paul Pilat. You also need two clocks in every gym and you have to play clock operators.
It comes down to making choices about how to spend limited resources.
I think it makes more sense to spend money on books, computers, and salaries for the teachers and coaches.
KHSAA funding isn’t an option, either. With approximately 250 high schools across the state, KHSAA would have to invest at least a million dollars–and as much as $6.25 million bucks–to purchase and install shot clocks across Kentucky.
Conclusion
There are shot clocks at college venues across the state. That’s a good place for them. Let’s keep it that way!
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Cameron Brown is a former Webster County basketball player who is currently an undergraduate student at Western Kentucky University. Contact him at cameron.brown288@topper.wku.edu
Cameron, with all due respect, I disagree. I am a high school official in two states that do use a shot clock (MD and DC), and I can tell you that the shot clock does impact the game in a positive way. First, the number of fouls in the end of games is reduced, because teams have no incentives to foul when doing so means giving away a free possession (the shot clock resets on fouls). If the foul is late enough in the game, the team that is fouled may be able to run out the clock, because the shot clock turns of if it is reset under the shot clock period (30 seconds in college, DC, and MD (as of next season). The shot clock also can simplify enforcement of the 10 second rule (teams must cross the half-court lime in 10 seconds after gaining possession in their backcourt) and the closely guarded rule. This is because the backcourt count is kept on the shot clock in college (and in DC boys basketball). So, a violation would happen if the shot clock reaches 20 before a team entered the front court (unless the offense called a timeout, in men’s basketball). This would reduce the inconsistency from different officials counting differently, by limiting visible counts to the last 30 seconds, or so, in each period, when the shot clock would be off. The shot clock would simplify the closely-guarded rule, because there is no purpose to waste time by dribbling when all possessions have a 30-second time limit. Hence, college basketball recently eliminated closely guarded counts on dribblers (the 5-second closely guarded count now only remains for players holding the ball). If high school was to adopt that rule change, along with the shot clock, it would eliminate inconsistent enforcement of the closely-guarded rule. Finally, there are low-cost options available for shot clocks. One can get a cell phone shot clock app for free from the Google Play store, or iTunes if using an iPhone. This can be useful as an alternate timing device, if the main shot clock fails. PCScoreboard.com also advertises shot-clock software that is available for lifetime use, with a control screen and portable USB key for onlyou $119. The AV department at most schools should be able to connect a laptop to projectors in each gym to produce a visible shot clock display. This is a very low-cost, bare-bones solution that can work. Portable shot clocks are another option that is cheaper than mounted shot clocks, starting at about $300 for the Ultrak T-200 shot clock (most shot clock sets include both clocks and a controller for the listed price). This eay, even the poorest school should be able to afford a shot clock.
In DC, there is rarely a concern about competitive ability, because mercy rules exist to end an unbalanced game (if one team leads by 30+ points in the 2nd half, clock runs until the end of the game, or until the deficit is reduced to under 20). In MD, small schools play small schools in the playoffs, and big schools play big schools in the playoffs (there are 4 classes, from 1A to 4A, with 1A being the smallest), and there is a 35 point mercy rule in the second half, where the shot clock turns off and the clock runs, unless the deficit falls below the mercy rule threshold. If NFHS was to adopt this nationally, it would alleviate concerns about the shot clock causing competitive imblance.