CAPTION: Shot clock as displayed on Daktronics website.
By John Mesh
The shot clock era finally has come to Kansas high school basketball.
It’s about time.
In my opinion, the shot clock should have been used in Kansas a long time ago.
Hutchinson (Kansas Class 5A) and Buhler (Class 4A) are using the 35-second shot clock this season.
Hutchinson High School boys basketball coach Bryan Miller said he is glad that Kansas schools will get to use the 35-second clock.
“I love that we are finally getting a shot clock, we need it. The use of the shot clock will only advance the game of basketball in the state and help us to catch up with others. Thirty-five seconds is a fairly long possession. I don’t think it will drastically affect the majority of the game.”
Hutchinson Tribune area schools not using the shot clock are Haven, Nickerson, Halstead, Class 3A; Hutchinson Trinity, Inman, Sterling, Class 2A; Hutchinson Central Christian, Fairfield, Pretty Prairie, Burrton, Little River, Cunningham in 1A.
Buhler opened the season Dec, 6 at Nickerson, so the shot clock was not used. Hutchinson opened the season Dec. 10 against Maize (a Class 6A school), so the shot clock was used.
When Hutchinson played at Buhler Dec. 13, the shot clock was in use.
The Kansas High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) is testing the 35-second shot clock for the first time only at the varsity level during the 2024-25 season.
All 340 teams in the state had the choice to add them to their home courts — 125 of them, 37%, opted in.
Nearly two-thirds of Kansas high schools (215) opted out of the trial season.
Among 6A, 5A and 4A schools, the vote was 91 yes and 17 no. In Classes 3A, 2A and 1A schools, the vote was 34 yes and 198 no.
Pratt, a 4A school that plays in the Central Kansas League with Haven, Nickerson and Halstead, opted out.
Most are smaller schools and were dissuaded because of staffing and cost, said Kyle Doperalski, KSHSAA’s assistant executive director who oversees basketball.
“The smaller school conversation was one in which staffing is an issue because you have the scoreboard operator and the scorebook keeper,” said Doperalski in an interview with Topeka television station KSNT.
“Now, (schools) have to find a third person to operate the shot clock and also financially to buy the shot clock and get that installed.”
KSHSAA is leaning on Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League commissioner Keith Kinley and the league to help pave the way in Kansas. Hutchinson (Division I) and Buhler (Division 3) are AVCTL members.
“Being the first and taking the storm in controversial for the game of basketball and high school athletics — we want to make sure we’re prepared and get things right,” Kinley told KWCH/Catch It Kansas reporter Brandon Zenner.
“The goal is to eliminate possible scenarios — especially in the postseason — where teams will begin stalling possessions and holding the ball for minutes on end while they’re leading, as well as preparing players to use shot clocks in college basketball,” Kinley said.
Miller said there could be more comeback victories with the use of the shot clock.
“However, now teams can have a better chance to come back from large deficits and coaches will have to manage the end of the games instead of sitting on the ball with a lead,” Miller said.
“This has been long overdue for Kansas high school basketball and I’m thankful for the coaches who led this charge. Hopefully this will push the powers to be to continue advancing the game of high school basketball in Kansas.”
Doperalski said Nebraska slowly rolled out its usage over three years, starting with larger schools. This will be the first year they will be used for all classifications.
“I’ve spent a lot of time talking to my counterpart in Nebraska,” Doperalski said. “And he has had nothing but positive things to say from a players perspective, from a coaches perspective, from an officiating perspective, from an administrative perspective. They’re all in on the shot clock.”
I’m in on the shot clock as well.
John Mesh has worked in journalism for nearly 40 years in Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kansas. He currently freelance reports for The Hutchinson Tribune.