Shot Clocks

#2 posting 4.17.2007
your daily dose of girls basketball news & information

SOUTH DAKOTA REPORTS

The AA division is looking to make some changes in the way they play the game. They are looking to go to 18 minute halves, adding a shot clock and changing the regional formats. From the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.
My take: all the changes (18 minute halves, shot clocks) are designed to give advantage to the favored team. Now teams will not be forced to foul to get the ball back. Upsets will be limited. But the cost of the shot clock, plus paying someone to run the shot clock (it can't be the same as the scoreboard clock) will burden schools short on cash. And if you have ever seen a HS game you know the problems with scoreboard operators: the clock doesn't start, or runs to long. The shot clock is not needed.
If you look at the possessions this year, from games I saw the low was 48 possessions in a 18 minute half game. Considering that a team only has the ball half the time the average time for their possession was 22.3 seconds. Now the other team may have had the ball only 5 seconds and then the other for 40 seconds, but probably that is a stretch. On the other end of the spectrum the most possessions were at 90 or 12 seconds.

People are concerned about low scoring games. Adding a shot clock won't improve the skills of the players.

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Next up: parade of states; college reports, and 2 more out & abouts, the first two from Menomonie (more on Wednesday and Thursday).