Prep school coaches back use of 30-second shot clock

With almost four minutes remaining and holding a sixpoint lead against Notre Dame in a Mercer County Tournament boys basketball game, Nottingham held the ball.

A similar situation occurred in the championship game as Trenton Catholic Academy played freeze as Northstars’ fans booed their disapproval, obviously forgetting their team’s previous version of keep away.

Such manifestations did not exist this season in Mid-Atlantic Prep League basketball games as both boys and girls played with a 30-second shot clock.

The time constraint proved a game-changer as teams were hard pressed to set up offenses for up tempo contests.

“The 30-second clock seems a natural progression for high school players who are going to play with this format in college, whether it’s D-1, D-2 or D-3,” Ron Kane, coach for The Lawreceville School prep boys squad, said.

“The clock changes the game, especially in the fourth quarter. A team down 10 or 12 points with say five minutes left, is still in the game because it’s guaranteed possessions.”

Kane voiced myriad reasons for shot clock use, including his belief that fans desire an uptempo pace, enjoy athleticism and generally react negatively toward stall ball.

Other states that use a shot clock, generally a 35-second clock, for boys and girls high school basketball are Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Washington, New York, California, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Plus, Wisconsin’s Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Board of Control in June 2017 approved by a 6-4 margin the use of a 35-second shot clock for varsity games beginning with the 2019-20 season.

Clocks come with a cost with estimates ranging from $2,000$2,500 for installation, plus payment for an extra person at the scorer’s table.

Hun Coach Jonathan Stone said one year with shot clock regulations produced physical and mental alterations.

“Obviously, pace changed which meant players needed to think and react quicker. Coaches and players had to be cognizant of the clock. Early on, we may have had a player bringing up the ball slowly but not at the end of the season. Like most things in life, you adapt,” Stone explained.

“We had several games this year where (non-MAPL) teams held the ball two or three minutes against us. That was tough on both teams and undoubtedly tough to watch.”

NJSIAA members show no desire for a shot clock.

Former NJSIAA Executive Director Steve Timko quoted in a Feb. 2016 article for HoopsHaven said, he surveyed the state five or six years ago and the shot clock received a resounding unofficial defeat.

“Three hundred something to 50, by an unbelievable margin,” Timko alleged.

“You put the clock in and it totally changes the dynamics of the game. A lot of those people like to take the air out of the ball to give themselves a better chance of competing. They don’t want a shot clock,” Jerry Carino reported.

Kane argued players and fans want action.

“With the clock, It’s a fastpaced, quicker product that I feel most people enjoy. It’s good for the game, it’s good for the viewers, it’s good for the competitors on the floor,” Kane reasoned.

NJSIAA officials cited cost as a major issue for shot clock implementation.

Minutes from a May 2017 NJSIAA meeting noted, “For the shot clock, it was unanimous that the cost of such does not come close to the perceived benefit of it.”

Kane’s basketball IQ did align with Timko regarding a shot clock offers advantages.

“No doubt the stronger get a little stronger with use of the shot clock. No shot clock gives teams perceived in “underdog” roles a chance for upset,” Kane noted.

As NJSIAA boys and girls playoff action begins Monday, expect slowed play by “underdog” teams and by most teams during the final minutes of each quarter.”