Are shot clocks headed our way?

Shot clocks for high school boys and girls basketball games across the nation might be on the way.

If and when it happens in Ohio is another matter.

On May 12, the National Federation of State High School Associations said “beginning with the 2022-23 season, a 35-second shot clock will be permitted in high school basketball games by state association adoption.”

The key words in that statement are “state association adoption,” meaning the Ohio High School Athletic Association would have to approve a shot clock for member schools. The Federation also said a proposal for a national rule mandating a shot clock was not approved during its rules committee annual meeting in late April.

“We provided the committee with a lot of information regarding the shot clock, including responses to a 46-question survey sent to states currently using a shot clock,” said Theresia Wynns, NFHS director of sports and officials and liaison to the Basketball Rules Committee, in a statement.

Mentor athletic director Jeff Cassella — who also serves as chair of the OHSAA’s Northeast Board — said a ruling on a shot clock would have to come from the OHSAA, and a recommendation from its board of directors, of which Cassella is not a member.

The biggest question if shot clocks are permitted for Ohio is the cost — which start at between $2,000 and $3,000.

“And who’s paying for them?” said Cassella. “Then you have to get another game worker. Personally, I like the shot clock in the game. That’s just me, not as an athletic director. I like the game up-tempo. But on the other hand, there are logistical issues.”

A huge proponent of the shot clock is Mentor boys coach Bob Krizancic, who for 40 years has used a guard-oriented attack featuring plenty of 3-point shooting. Up-tempo might be an understatement when describing Krizancic’s tactical beliefs.

“I’m all for the shot clock, 1,000 percent,” said Krizancic. “I’d be happy with a 15-second shot clock. … Ohio should adopt it, without question.”

Other area coaches aren’t so sure a shot clock at the high school level is a good idea. That includes Lake Catholic boys coach Matt Moran, who said the biggest factor will be cost and finding individuals qualified to properly operate it without fail or delay. He also added this:

“Who wants it?” said Moran. “Is it the teams which have talent year in and year out who are afraid when other teams want to slow them down? Are they afraid that they actually have to coach when a team of lesser talent’s only chance is to control time of possession?”

Charon boys coach Chad Murawski, who took the 14-seeded Hilltoppers to a Division II district final last winter, said upon hearing the news his first thought was about his athletic director Doug Snyder.

“I think this complicates his already busy game-day operations,” said Murawski. “From finding refs, a ticket counter, and now a shot clock operator … it’s just one more thing athletic directors have to worry about.”

Longtime area girls coach Bob Beutel — who opted not to coach at West Geauga this past season because of COVID-19 but is planning to return next season — has experience with a shot clock. When he was the coach at Eastlake North in the 1990s, the Rangers played in several tournaments out of state, including California, where the state uses a shot clock.

“We didn’t even discuss, or come up with a preparation for it,” said Beutel. “With our offense, if you have a good shot, take it. And we never had a violation in those games.”

Beutel predicts it won’t happen for one reason: “I think it’s a money issue.”

Perry girls coach Roy Infalvi Jr., who’s team last winter made a run to the regional, said he’s undecided about the thought of a shot clock at the high school level.

“I’ve gone back and forth on it for a while,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind it because it would allow some teams to try things differently on defense, but I don’t know if it’s feasible logistically.”

Cassella predicts the shot clock will be a topic of conversation at the OHSAA at some point. He’s not sure what the future of high school basketball will bring in terms of a shot clock, but he quipped this:

“I wished I owned a shot clock company right about now,” said Cassella.