Three reasons for — and against — Indiana high school basketball adding a shot clock

[Muda69]

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2021/05/14/ihsaa-basketball-shot-clock-indiana-future-let-debate-begin-nfhs/5090844001/

(Note: story is behind a paywall)

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Whenever the shot clock discussion in high school basketball begins, I feel like a bad sports-talk radio host. I can’t fake a strong take either way.

If you missed it, the shot clock became a hot topic again this week when the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) board of governors voted to permit a 35-second shot clock for state association adoption starting with the 2022-23 season.

It is important to keep in mind this is not a mandate. There are eight states that already have a shot clock in high school basketball (California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Washington; Georgia voted last June to add a shot clock for the 2022-23 season). Those states previously went against the NFHS by implementing a shot clock, giving up a position on the association’s basketball rules committee.

I think some, at least on Twitter, interpreted the shot-clock news Wednesday as “high school basketball is getting a shot clock.” That is not true, necessarily, unless your state votes to implement a shot clock. And judging by what Indiana High School Athletic Association commissioner Paul Neidig said Wednesday, I’m not sure we are headed in that direction.

“We have the best coaches and players in in the country,” Neidig said. “We have a tournament that every school in Indiana gets to play in. The object of the game is to put your team in the best possible position to win. Possession control is certainly a strategy utilized by many coaches in Indiana. I do not see a reason to take a strategy used to win from our coaches. But the debate will certainly be the center of conversation for a while.”

And this is where I find myself fighting my down-the-middle, lukewarm takes on a shot clock. Because when I hear what Neidig says, I agree. When I hear others say, “the game is better with a shot clock,” I also agree. In a decidedly unofficial poll, I put this question out on Twitter on Thursday: “Are you in favor of a shot clock in Indiana high school basketball?” The answers from 1,480 responses:

>> Yes it is a definite need: 49.4%

>> No it is not necessary: 22.8%

>> On fence but favor it: 20.5%

>> On fence but against it: 7.4%

Add that up and it is roughly 70% in favor, either totally in support or leaning in that direction. That is not necessarily surprising considering it is social media and skews to a younger audience. But I do sense the decision of the NFHS on Wednesday is another small step and a little more momentum in the direction of a shot clock. It may take another decade before it happens in Indiana, but I think it eventually will.

Because I’m still riding the fence, here are my three reasons for and against a shot clock:

.....

I personally am against the shot clock being used in Indiana High School Basketball,  frankly it's not needed.   Would like to hear other opinions.....................

 

[Basementbias]

My opinion is to use a "timer on" concept like lacrosse used to have to prevent stalling. It eventually just went to a long shot clock. For the most part it is a non-factor as it's around 80 seconds now & resets when a shot on goal occurs (believe that's accurate but could be wrong). The timer on would be a great compromise. No official shot clock, but also prevents absurd stalling from occurring. 

[Coach_K]

Stall ball is a great equalizer for team with fewer players.  But it is boring (speaking a fan and basketball official).

If it gets implemented, it affects the girls game too, something keep in mind.

It is immensely difficult to put the toothpaste back into the tube.  For some schools, 7 minute JV games are too much.  We are getting 4 more minutes of sloppy basketball for some teams.  I have hear no discussion of going back to a 6 minute JV game.  My point is, if a shot clock is passed, it will be incredibly hard to get rid of in the future.

All that being said, I am for a shot clock.  I think the 35 sec. proposal is good, but I think 40 is better.

[Irishman]

Bringing back an old topic. If you have not seen it, this was how Milan won their State Championship as well. Plump literally stood in one spots for minutes at a time with the ball on his hip. Sorry, as exciting as it may have been, that is not basketball. Some might say it was within the rules of the game, I would contend it was not in the spirit of competition, or the spirit of the game. 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/no-march-madness-illinois-team-holds-ball-entire-first-quarter-to-upset-state-s-no-1/ar-AA1AyLq8?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=dc5d06851e2a4735961765b947582158&ei=18 

[Muda69]

20 hours ago, Irishman said:

Bringing back an old topic. If you have not seen it, this was how Milan won their State Championship as well. Plump literally stood in one spots for minutes at a time with the ball on his hip. Sorry, as exciting as it may have been, that is not basketball. Some might say it was within the rules of the game, I would contend it was not in the spirit of competition, or the spirit of the game. 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/no-march-madness-illinois-team-holds-ball-entire-first-quarter-to-upset-state-s-no-1/ar-AA1AyLq8?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=dc5d06851e2a4735961765b947582158&ei=18 

Why didn't the opposing coach tell his players to stop playing zone defense (as asinine decision once they knew the other team was going to play stall ball) and go to closely guarded man-to-man defense?  Most every strategy in basketball as an opposing strategy that can counter it.  

 

[Coach Nowlin]

I would agree, if you sit in zone and the other team decides to do stall ball, then that is a counter and the zone D needs to adjust or be ok with the choice

Whats next, stopping play every time a close shot clock violation?  can't go to the monitor.......

 

[First_Backer_Inside]

I am against the shot clock as well. Like stated already, it's all apart of strategy. I understand it can be boring for the fans. But when did high school basketball become about the fans, or coaches, or officials, or anyone but the athletes on the court. The coach might use this because its the only way for his/her athletes to be successful. Let's be honest, if teams are using this they probably aren't rolling out four or five star recruits to play at the next level. Does it make them better basketball players, i don't know. I think there are still skills and an art to being able to drain minutes off a clock in basketball without turning the ball over, so some might say the coach is doing his players a disservice by teaching them this because they aren't learning basketball but I disagree. If teams are doing this other teams have to adjust. Find a way to speed them up and turn them over.

It's no different than high school football teams that run triple or wing-t. Everybody wants to be able to go four wide and sling the rock around the yard, but when you don't have the jimmy's and joe's year in and year out to do that you have to find other ways for your athletes to be as successful as possible. Stall ball gives teams that equalizer by limiting possessions just like the football team that limits possessions grinding out 3 and a third yard gains over and over and over. 

[Muda69]

Shot clock back on the table:  https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2026/01/29/indiana-high-school-basketball-shot-clock-coaches-association-proposal-ihsaa/88415395007/?tbref=hp

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Is the clock ticking toward Indiana high school basketball with a shot clock?

Possibly.

The Indiana Basketball Coaches Association surveyed its membership, receiving 612 responses from its roughly 800 boys and girls coaches. Of those returning the surveys, 68% are in favor of a shot clock, IBCA executive director Marty Johnson said.

“To get 77% response is really a good number,” Johnson said of the feedback from the coaches. “There is a lot of interest in this topic. We did not have much discussion about it prior to sending it out to the coaches, but the discussion has gone on more since then.”

Johnson said the 35-second shot clock proposal was presented to the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association last week. The proposal will be presented to the Indiana High School Athletic Association at its executive committee meeting on Feb. 20.

The proposal, as it stands now, would call for the shot clock to go into effect for the 2026-27 season. The IHSAA board of directors would then vote on the proposal at its meeting on May 4. It is possible, based on feedback from athletic directors, principals and others, that the proposal could be affirmed, denied, tabled to amended by the board of directors.

“We are listening to the coaches association and then will evaluate with our board,” IHSAA assistant commissioner Brian Lewis said.

There is not a mandate from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to add a shot clock, though Indiana is now in the minority as one of the states not to utilize one. For the 2025-26 season, there are 32 states that use a shot clock in some form. Prior to approval from the NFHS in 2021 to allow states to use a shot clock, there were only 10 states that used a shot clock.

 

Kentucky has approved a shot clock starting with the 2027-28 season. Illinois will require a shot clock for boys and girls varsity games beginning next season.

Under the proposal from the IBCA, the shot clock would reset to 35 seconds with no partial resets for offensive rebounds. Among the reasons considered for adding a shot clock are to align with college and professional basketball, to eliminate “stall ball” games and stop games turning into a free-throw contest in the fourth quarter.

Among the concerns include the cost to add shot clocks to facilities and the addition of a person to operate the clock. There is also the consideration of junior varsity and freshman games playing without a shot clock, at least initially, if the proposal passes.

Those "reasons" are specious at best.  Still just say no to an Indiana High School basketball shot clock.  Keep the game pure. 

 

[Coach Nowlin]

1.  I agree, don' t need shot clock for HS (still don't understand how shot clock reduces fouls

2.  So College Basketball hasn't been pure 1985?   

I am disappointed in you my friend, one of your reasons not to have it had nothing to do with the excessive money that would cost schools an subsequent school tax base to govt entity known as High School (public of course) 

😀

[Muda69]

After this past weekend's 4A final the haters are going to be shouting again for a shot clock.  It's not needed:

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2026/03/29/ihsaa-basketball-calling-for-shot-clock-after-4a-state-finals-misses-point/89376448007/

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If you ever have some time to kill, go to YouTube and pull up the 1979 basketball game between North Carolina and Duke.

It was a few years before the college basketball would implement the shot clock in 1985 (the first year I can really remember watching basketball). In that game at Duke in February of 1979, North Carolina coach Dean Smith, his Tar Heels ranked No. 4 in the country, held the ball for nearly the entirety of the first half on the road at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Halftime score: Duke 7, North Carolina 0. The Tar Heels took two shots.

North Carolina came out of the four corners’ offense in the second half, but Duke still won, 47-40. Smith was criticized for the stall tactic, including this stinger from Duke coach Bill Foster: “I thought it was Naismith who invented this game, not Dean Smith.”

But it is interesting to watch that first half in the context of the time when the stall was considered just one of the philosophies to win a college basketball game. This 1979 game was an extreme example, but Smith did use the four corners often when his teams were leading. In this particular game at Duke, it is interesting to me that the crowd and announcers did not seem to find it all that strange that the score was 7-0 at halftime.

It would never happen now, of course, with a shot clock in college basketball. But could you imagine if a high school state championship game was 7-0 at halftime and played in a similar fashion? Social media would implode.

I bring this up because of the reaction to Crown Point’s decision to pull the ball out and melt the clock in Saturday night’s Class 4A state championship at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. You would have thought Crown Point committed a crime on the court based on some of the online responses. Instead of a basketball tactic, the stall is considered by some to be an affront to the game itself.

And to be clear, I get it from a viewer’s standpoint. Basketball is meant to be entertaining. Who wants to watch a team stand around and hold the ball? But I also get that you can use anything within the rules to win a game. If it is in your best interest not to shoot, that is your option. This is the state championship. Like it or not, the cat-and-mouse of the defense deciding whether to sit back or come out and force the issue is part of the game.

The game evolves. There will be a shot clock in Indiana high school basketball in the next few years. Count on it. There is too much momentum around the country in favor of a shot clock in high school basketball. The Indiana Basketball Coaches Association has a proposal coming. Even if this proposal does not pass, it will at some point.

But if you were watching the Crown Point-Mt. Vernon game and clamoring for a shot clock when Crown Point pulled the ball out in the third quarter, you are missing the point completely.

Because you know who was not mad? Mt. Vernon. And you know who won the game? Mt. Vernon. Crown Point went to the stall leading 30-28 early in the third quarter after some poor shot selection helped Mt. Vernon start the quarter on an 8-0 run. The Bulldogs had one possession of 1 minute, 48 seconds. Another that lasted nearly 80 seconds.

Crown Point coach Clint Swan explained it to me this way after game: “I couldn’t take some guys out. I had to keep them on the floor. We were gassed. I had to get that ball spread out and had to hold it for a little bit to get them some rest. I thought our guys handled it well. We got good shots out of it.”

Let’s be honest: Crown Point looked like the better team for most of the first half, taking a 10-point lead into halftime. Even as the lead dwindled to two points, it was surprising – to me, at least – to see the Bulldogs pull the ball out and work the clock. Swan is a Hall of Fame coach with 444 more wins than I have. He knows his team. The momentum had flipped to Mt. Vernon even before the stall began.

But I do think in that moment, the mental edge fully belonged to Mt. Vernon. Instead of trying to deliver the knockout blow to the Marauders, it felt like Crown Point was just trying to hang on. You don’t just hang on against Luke Ertel. He will beat you if it is a one or two possession game in the final minutes.

Ertel said after the game: “That was kind of a weird game plan in my opinion, and it felt like they were a little intimidated by us, which they shouldn’t have been.”

It also allowed him to rest a bit after Crown Point had made him work so hard for everything all game up to that point. Mt. Vernon was not offended at all by the stall. They were energized.

“I was able to rest up, and it was almost like we had some energy on defense because it was like, ‘Oh shoot, these guys are trying to do something weird or out of the ordinary,’” Ertel said. “It was almost like we had them rattled a little bit. That was honestly in our favor.”

The rest helped Mt. Vernon’s fourth-quarter rally in a 52-50 win (the Marauders led by five before Dikembe Shaw’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer). Ertel, the senior Purdue commit, finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in his final high school game.

 

If you think Indiana high school basketball needs a shot clock, I’m with you. I would prefer it for flow in the fourth quarters of games. It is so rare that I see a flat-out stall game. That is not even what Crown Point was doing. It was basically two long possessions that added up to three minutes of a 32-minute game.

But if you are on your social media soapbox begging for a shot clock, remember who won Saturday’s state championship game. Isn’t that the whole point?

Too bad Mr. Neddenriep is wrong.  Indiana High School  basketball doesn't need a shot clock, it's a pure game as it is.  Don't taint it with an arbitrarily determined shot clock. 

 

[Irishman]

5 minutes ago, Muda69 said:

After this past weekend's 4A final the haters are going to be shouting again for a shot clock.  It's not needed:

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2026/03/29/ihsaa-basketball-calling-for-shot-clock-after-4a-state-finals-misses-point/89376448007/

Too bad Mr. Neddenriep is wrong.  Indiana High School  basketball doesn't need a shot clock, it's a pure game as it is.  Don't taint it with an arbitrarily determined shot clock. 

 

I didn’t get the impression he said it was needed or that he is in favor of it. What he did say though is probably true . He just said it is likely going to happen. I too think it is inevitable. 

[Muda69]

42 minutes ago, Irishman said:

I didn’t get the impression he said it was needed or that he is in favor of it. What he did say though is probably true . He just said it is likely going to happen. I too think it is inevitable. 

Well when the inevitable happens that means this old man has attended his last Indiana High School basketball game.