Photo Credit: Fox Sports North: The 35-second shot clock will be part of the 2022-23 basketball season for 6A to 3A schools. Most coaches are open to additions, but warn that the shot clock will require a learning curve.

To Max Campoda Rolto/ Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Talk about a game changer.

After years of overwhelming support, the Arizona Interscholastic Association 35 second shot clock in high school basketball At meetings from 6A to 3A.

For Graham County, Thatcher and Safford play on the shot clock, but Pima and Fort Thomas do not. However, according to the local 2A basketball coach, the shot clock is used when a 1A or 2A school plays at his 3A or higher school, and no clock is used when the game is played at a 1A or 2A school. yeah.

This is the first shot clock used for AIA-sanctioned high school basketball in the state. The majority of coaches, players and fans approve of the change, but financial and logistical issues have long strained schools across Arizona.

During the 2021-22 school year, each meeting will decide whether to adopt the rules outlined by the National High School Athletics Federation, including a 35-second shot clock at each end of the court, and detailed rules for officials and clock operators. voted on whether to adopt Councils 6A through 3A voted to adopt the rule, but 2A and 1A did not.

De’Rahn Stinson, coach at Raymond S. Kerris High School, said: “The game will be faster and the score will be higher.”

Stinson and other Shot Clock supporters are excited as the coach will be forced to plan differently. Teams can no longer run out of his clock a game with motion offenses, and each offense should make his possession decisions more quickly.

Stinson also believes that the shot clock gives teams with good defense an advantage. You should experience an even higher level of success in possession.

Saguaro High School coach Lucas Ramirez sees the installation of the shot clock helping prepare his players for the next level.

“From a basketball perspective, I think just improving the game is very beneficial,” Ramirez said. “That translates to the next level where everyone has a shot clock on the college stage. If that’s what you want your players to be prepared for, that’s great.”

An NCAA study found that only 3.4% of high school basketball players can play college basketball at any level, so some argue that the addition of a shot clock is unnecessary. However, Stinson disagrees.

“It’s true that not everyone plays in college, but I think everyone wants to try to be better than they are now,” Stinson said. “It should be everyone’s goal. The shot clock makes players better.”

Sunny Slope High School coach Ray Portela said the change was a step in the right direction to establish consistency with the rules of high school basketball across the country.

“I think it’s one of the rule changes that sooner or later you have to adapt,” said Portela. “Everybody wants to have the same experience. No one wants to feel that they are lower than anyone else.”

Portela talked about how his team played in many out-of-state tournaments. Some with shot clocks and some without. He believes a more consistent set of rules across states would benefit the game as a whole.

“If we’re all on the same page and parallel, it just helps our game, so there’s no confusion,” Portela said.

Kevin Standerfer, athletic director at Snowflake High School, said his coaches were all in favor of the new rules. I look forward to seeing what you do.

He relates the rule change to the addition of the 3-point line in 1987, and many opponents of the shot clock invoke the same hypothesis used at the time.

“Did[the three-point line]affect the game? I think it did,” Standerfer said. “At the start of a possession, I try to get a little closer to get the closest possible shot. There was a learning curve, but I adapted.”

Most of the issues with the new rules come from shot clock manufacturing, delivery, and installation.

Snowflake High School handled the cost of the watch, but we’ve heard that other schools in northern Arizona are having trouble getting the necessary funding, Standerfer said.Main is old in some schools basketball scoreboardis not integrated with the shot clock and must replace the entire scoreboard system.

However, Snowflake High’s shot clock issue stems from an out-of-control supply chain issue.

“I ordered the watch in the spring. I was told that the school was financially operating from July 1st to June 30th, and would reopen by June 30th,” says Standerfer. said. “However, due to manufacturing issues, the product won’t be in stock until the end of July, and we need to schedule staff to come here and install it.”

Standerfer also voiced concerns many sports departments across the state have. Can you find someone qualified to operate the shot clock?

“My biggest concern is finding someone who understands the rules,” Standerfer said. “Wherever we go, not just at Snowflake, there will be a learning curve over the next few years.”

Saguaro Athletic Director Matt Harris has coached high school and college basketball, most recently as assistant coach of men’s basketball at Arizona Christian University. At the college level, Harris remembers being stopped in nearly every game because the referee checked the scorer’s table to adjust or sync the shot clock.

“It adds a new dimension to the referee’s attention and another dimension to the scorer’s table,” Harris said. “But I believe it will be resolved in time.”

The addition of a shot clock will undoubtedly change Arizona High School basketball.

“[The shot clock]adds atmosphere and makes it feel like you’re in the NBA for some kids,” Stinson said. “Because this is the highest level that some kids play. (Varsity) high school basketball is their NBA.”