This winter season some high schools in Wichita and around the state have added shot clocks into their basketball games as part of a one-year trial by the Kansas State High School Activities Association. The new shot clocks have resulted in some changes in the way basketball games are played.
“Everything is a time management situation so you tend to measure possessions a little bit differently and it kind of puts a lot of responsibility on the athletes to understand to look up at the shot clock so that is a big change from what we’re used to doing over the years,” girls varsity basketball coach Donald Dixon said.
The shot clock rules in high school basketball are completely different compared to college level and higher organizations. In high school ball shot clocks are 35 seconds compared to College and NCAA basketball shot clocks are 30 seconds or even less.
“If we shoot and get the offensive rebound it resets to 35 but it’s just 35 seconds per possession if we shoot another team gets the rebound and they get the ball then the shot clocks restarts at 35 seconds,” boys varsity basketball Coach Karl Brown said.
Dixon says they have experienced some changes with the new shot clocks being in effect this year with the girls team.
“We had like two situations where it became a shot clock situation so we’re trying to get everyone used to it so we can capitalize on it and so it’ll benefit us,” Brown said.
The new shot clocks have affected both girls and boys basketball teams here at Southeast in different ways. The shot clocks have helped the players adjust to the quicker game plays and to keep moving.
“The shot clock has affected us greatly, because I think it makes us move faster, but also allows us to get plays ran in a good way,” varsity player Tiana Hardwell (11) said.
The boys basketball team has always been used to playing fast paced games, but it still affects the team in a way.
“They play a faster tempo, but teams will work the clock more and work the ball more; it affects them because they have to race against the clock to get their shots,” Brown said.
Both basketball teams enjoy having the shot clocks and using them doing practice at times. The basketball teams have been affected by the shot clock in a positive manner and will continue to get better every practice. KSHSAA will gather feedback on the shot clocks at the end of the season before considering whether to begin requiring them state-wide in the future.
