Shot clock era begins as Ridgefield beats Brookfield in OT
RIDGEFIELD — Ridgefield defeated visiting Brookfield 55-53 in overtime Monday night to begin the 2023-24 girls basketball season, but the game will likely be remembered more for what it meant, rather than the outcome.
The game was among some of the state’s first to feature a shot clock as a new era in CIAC basketball officially commenced.
No shot clock violations occurred in the game and there was only one moment where the referee needed to stop things to clarify how much time should be left on the clock.
So, as far as first days of major new rules go, this game was pretty smooth with just some end-ofgame strategy being affected. But officials have said there will be a learning curve while adjusting during this first season.
Trailing by three in the final minute, Brookfield wasn’t compelled to foul to get the ball back, but instead just got a defensive stop as the shot clock wound down.
And that stop allowed
Brookfield’s Catherine Sollose to hit a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left, tying the game and forcing overtime. Sollose finished with a game-high 29 points.
“We didn’t notice it too much because we don’t like to hold (the ball) and Ridgefield doesn’t like to hold it,” Brookfield coach Devon Parker said. “I liked it at the end of the game. With two minutes to go, we weren’t panicking because we knew we would get the ball back. No need to press, no need to foul or get crazy because you are getting the ball back. It changes the game, it was awesome.”
In the spring of 2021, the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) granted its member associations the chance to implement a shot clock. It took more than two years of vetting the logistics involved for the CIAC to feel comfortable introducing it.
CIAC membership requested that the use of a shot clock only be mandated at the varsity level for the 2023-24 season in girls and boys varsity basketball. It remains optional at the JV and freshmen levels.
Ridgefield and Brookfield
both play up-tempo styles and the shot clock only twice got under 10 seconds.
“I didn’t think about it much,” Sollose said. “Our defense was pretty active this game and the shot clock didn’t come into play. We try to play fast on offense so hopefully, it is never an issue for us.”
One of the close calls came in overtime following a Ridgefield timeout when there was 7 seconds remaining on the shot clock.
After the inbound, Ridgefield’s Anna Gillan thought she had more time and threw up an offbalance 3-pointer which fell short as the shot clock expired.
“It was difficult there. I thought there was more time and thought it reset. I am still trying to learn the rules. It’s a learning moment, I’ll move on,” Gillan said. “The shot clock plays to our advantage on defense. On offense, we have plenty of time to do what we want and it didn’t impact us tonight other than that one play.”
Prior to that play, Ridgefield called a timeout and devised a play thinking the shot clock would reset, but it was not. The referee working the game allowed the teams to go back to their huddles for 30 more seconds because of the confusion.
In addition to the shot clock rule, a new team foul rule was in place for the first time, as well.
There will no longer be one-and-one free throws shot during CIAC games after the seventh foul of the half. Instead, beginning with the fifth foul of each quarter, teams will be awarded two free throws. The fouls reset after each quarter.
The first free throw shot under this rule was by Ridgefield’s Kate Holbert who made one of two with :39.8 left in the third quarter.
“I think the foul rule is actually more challenging for everyone than the shot clock,” Ridgefield coach Rob Coloney said. “Depending on how the game is officiated early on, it could have implications on individual players.
“If you are not tracking to a bonus and somebody gets hand check here and there and all of a sudden one of your big-time players is in foul trouble. I’m interested to see how the official and how the players respond to that as the season goes along.”