The idea of adding a shot clock in high school basketbal is a debate that is gaining more traction as the years go on. Sparked by a 2-0 final score in a game played in Alabama, discussion has raged on for the last two weeks in regards to implementing a shot clock here in Indiana. A shot clock would inevitably make games sloppier, and turnovers rise, yet the proponents of a shot clock don’t care. They feel that the game would be more exciting, and bring in more fans to games. Stop me if I’m wrong, but forcing 15, 16, 17 and 18-year-old kids to make decisions in a 45-second window in the face of adversity could have the opposite effect on the game. On Thursday, the Warsaw Tigers traveled west on 30 to do battle with their bitter rivals, the Plymouth Pilgrims. During that game, there were four possessions over a minute and a half each. One of those possessions was of the variety most people are complaining about. Warsaw held the ball out by midcourt as Plymouth refused to come out and guard them. This went on for about minutes, until Plymouth changed defenses, and the possession ended in a foul. While that extended possession seemed to irritate the Pilgrim faithful, Plymouth had their long possessions throughout the game as well. The reasoning for those was much different though. Warsaw’s stingy defense forced Plymouth to work the ball around their offense for an extended period of time. Three of the game’s best possessions were those that were extended by Warsaw’s effort and defensive positioning. Had a shot clock been in place, we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to enjoy solid defense, which I believe changed the momentum of the game. Now, I don’t see them changing this rule anytime soon. My biggest fear is what Bobby Cox, Commissioner of the Indiana High School Athletic Association, said during his interview on local radio show Coyote and Grossman last week. Cox said the IHSAA adheres to the guidelines put in place by the NFHS (National Federation of State High Schools Association). In order to keep their voice heard, they must continue to use the rules put forward by the NFHS, and not go rogue on any rulings their committee might implement. That means if the board were to get together, and the majority of states voted in a shot clock, the IHSAA would have to follow. That’s a very dangerous game that could be played with what is still arguably the most popular high school sport in this state. As boys sectionals draw near, and the Warsaw Lady Tigers vie for a sectional championship tonight, the thought of forcing these kids to play with a shot clock angers me. At the end of the day, we keep inching closer and closer to turning our once-proud game of basketball into something that is almost unrecognizable. All types of sports are changing and evolving, and have been doing so at an alarming rate the last five years. This is something that doesn’t need changing. Taking away the ability to hold onto the basketball in order to give your team its best shot at winning isn’t just game planning, it’s the right way to play the game. It takes discipline and focus to be able to control the tempo of a basketball game. Good teams can, and bad teams find a way to play at a pace their opponents want to play at. Handcuffing them to function their offense inside of a 45-second shot clock will lead to sloppier play, and at times unwatchable basketball. If you’ve attended a high school game between two competitive teams, you will see there’s no need to try and inject artificial excitement into the game. Don’t believe me? Take some time out and attend a game sometime in the near future. I haven’t been disappointed with any games I’ve attended all season, and I highly doubt you will be either.
