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Published on 12/29/1997 All articles from this issue

High school boys play a game of beat the clock

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By Pete Borello

Town Crier Staff Writer

The introduction of the shot clock in high school boys basketball is a good thing. No, it's a bad thing. Actually, it depends on whom you ask.

Local prep coaches are divided on the new statewide rule requiring teams to shoot within 35 seconds.

Coaches at St. Francis High and Pinewood School have no problem with the clock.

"I didn't think I'd like it, but I do," said Pinewood coach Mark Gardner. "It makes the game more enjoyable for the fans, and the kids like it, too. They feel like they're playing at a higher level because the college game uses it."

St. Francis coach Steve Filios didn't campaign for the clock, but said it hasn't been detrimental to the game.

"Thirty-five seconds is a long time," Filios said. "It's not much of an issue to us because we usually shoot before that anyway. I don't think any of the teams we played last year would have violated it with their normal offense."

Coaches at Mountain View and Homestead highs are among those who would rather beat the clock - with a hammer.

"I personally hate it," said Homestead coach Matt Zehner. "It has a tremendously negative affect on us."

Zehner believes the clock penalizes teams like the Mustangs who lack talent - especially when they play top-flight opponents.

"It guarantees there will hardly be any upsets anymore," Zehner said. "Lesser teams won't upset quality teams because it reduces the opportunity for the little guy to be successful."

These lesser teams can no longer spread the offense and slow the tempo against teams with superior athletes, according to Zehner.

However, Filios thinks such teams can still pull off upsets.

"The college game has a shot clock (40 seconds) and it hasn't stopped schools like Princeton from beating teams with more talent," Filios said.

Mountain View coach Craig Ellegood, who's known for preaching patience on offense, believes the shot clock makes his job more difficult.

"It takes the strategy away from the coach," Ellegood said. "It may not hurt a fast-paced team, but it hurts any team that likes to slow things down."

Filios said coaches may need to change their way of thinking now that the shot clock is in place.

"We may need to update ourselves as coaches," Filios said. "We have to make adjustments."

Shot clock opponents say the rule also creates another problem: more misses. As the clock winds down, more bad shots go up.

"The clock may speed up the game, but shooting percentage is down because teams are forcing up more bad shots," Ellegood said.

Count Homestead among the teams suffering from shot clock-itis.

"When the shot clock hits 10, our guys just panic," Zehner said.

While Filios said he has seen a few teams panic as the clock approaches single digits, St. Francis is not among them.

"We have a little different mind set in the last 10 seconds," he said. "We try to be poised and not rush things. Under 10 doesn't mean under 1."

Competent passing is another key to conquering the clock, according to Filios.

"Skilled passing teams worry less about (the clock)," he said. "We really work hard at being efficient passers."

Both Filios and Gardner point out that the shot clock also rewards teams that play good defense.

"You play hard defense for only so long and not forever," Gardner said. "You know the other team has to put up a shot in a certain amount of time."

Filios said the clock has encouraged his team to play better defense.

"Our players get fired up when the clock hits 10," he said. "Their eyes light up and they play with more intensity."