Seconds to shoot: Local coaches react to new high school shot clock

Apr. 22—There's going to be a big change coming to local high school basketball next season.

Gone are the days of stalling for time and running out the clock. Now, there will be a 35-second shot clock statewide on both varsity boys and girls games, the Alabama High School Athletic Association Central Board announced last Wednesday.

"I think it will make the sport more engaging," said Lawrence County girls head coach Jenna Brewer. "It'll be more fun to watch because there's no longer any running out the clock."

Now, instead of holding the ball at the end of close games, teams will be forced to shoot before the end of the shot clock, or it's a turnover.

"Instead of fouling to get the ball back, you can decide whether you want to foul or defend," Hatton head coach Justin Henley said. "Because you've got a chance to get that rebound or get that stop because they have to play."

It's an attempt to modernize the game with more professional standards; NCAA basketball has had a shot clock since 1985.

More recently, states have started to add it. In 2022 Georgia implemented its own, and Florida plans to add one next season.

Last year local coaches could get a taste of what was to come by having the shot clock be optional for non-area games if both teams agreed.

Brewer, who played four years in college with a shot clock, said the Red Devils took every opportunity they could last season.

"Every time that we played against somebody, we always said that we wanted to play with it," she said. "But we honestly shoot so fast that it doesn't really matter to us."

Several local coaches said the change is unlikely to affect day-to-day pace but still view it as a step in the right direction.

However, some coaches have had issues with the way the AHSAA pushed smaller schools to buy their own shot clock, and the short notice teams were given.

Priceville girls coach Shane Childress said he sent a strongly worded email to the AHSAA about the situation.

"I was at those smaller schools where you had a hard time finding somebody to keep the book, keep the clock, clean up the gym afterwards," he said. "You're pinching pennies, trying to have money for all of your kids. They're not taking into consideration the small school."

Shot clock systems typically cost between $2,000 and $5,000. A shot clock package from Daktronics, a scoreboard producer, is $4,139.

However, the AHSAA has noted that annual financial disbursements to member schools may be used to help offset these costs.

Henley agreed with Childress and said Hatton would have had to buy a shot clock if it wasn't for its new gym being constructed last summer.

"Lucky enough for us, we were getting a new gym, so we were able to get them installed as we did that," Henley said. "I'm sure there's some places now that are trying to scramble to get them. Luckily, we still have some time and they're not crazy expensive."

He said he's already had conversations with the school's administration about who will operate the shot clock and whether they should be paid or be the same person for every game.

Beyond cost and staffing, coaches also raised concerns about the affect on referees.

"You're going to put another burden on the officials. Now we're adding another human element that could mess things up," Childress said. "That's the one side that I see that's just not really thought through."

Childress said he expects it to take time for everyone to get used to the shot clock, but ultimately this is just the next evolution in the game of basketball.

"Some smart coach will get ahead of the game and then other coaches will start patterning after that coach and what they're doing. Then something else will change, and it'll evolve again," Childress said. "The game just grows and grows. That's why it's so fun to coach."