The era of the shot clock is coming to IHSA basketball and local coaches love the concept.
But they say the devil could be in the details.
The IHSA Board of Directors recently approved the adoption of a 35-second shot clock for all boys and girls varsity games beginning with the 2026-27 season. Teams can use it for the 2024-25 and 2025-2026 seasons without having to go to the IHSA for approval, as was required for a pilot program launched to gauge interest and get feedback on the idea.
The use of the shot clock for lower levels will be optional.
“I think it’s obviously going to help the game,” said Loyola women’s coach Jeremy Schoenecker, whose team is the reigning Class 4A champion. “The only concern I really have is whether all the facilities will be able to handle it so it doesn’t hurt the game.”
Regina Dominican women’s coach Bob Newton has the same concern.
“We’ve been in some places that could barely hold a (scorers’) table, even in the state playoffs,” he said. “You would go somewhere and find children at the table.”
“You have to have an IHSA official manning the (shot) clock,” Highland Park boys coach Ross Deutsch said. “We have a shortage of officials.”
There is also a concern about infrastructure. All five high schools in The Record’s coverage area (New Trier, Loyola Academy, Highland Park, Regina Dominican and North Shore Country Day) have shot clocks in their main gyms or are in the process of installing them. But throughout the state there are auxiliary gymnasiums and playing fields used for tournaments and shootouts that are not equipped with the technology.
North Shore Country Day is in the process of renovating its gym, which is expected to be ready by Thanksgiving week with games beginning around Dec. 2.
“I’m glad we said, ‘Make sure we have shot clocks,'” Raiders athletic director Patrick McHugh said.
The expense of adding shot clocks can have a major impact for smaller schools like NSCD and its Independent School League rivals.
“You have to give at least two years (notice) for schools to budget accordingly,” McHugh said. “I’m lucky to work at a school where the athletic department is well supported.”
He is also concerned about staffing.
“I’m concerned about some of the schools in our city,” McHugh said. “For a small school, it’s a manpower issue.”
The other four local schools have shot clocks. Highland Park installed them last year so the Giants kids would be ready to play with shot clocks at the Jack Tosh Christmas tournament in York.
New Trier incorporated them during the construction of its new athletic facilities, but the Trevians’ experience with shot clocks goes back further.
“We started playing with the shot clock two years ago in Arizona,” Trevians boys coach Scott Fricke said.
He likes it and wishes it had been in use when Homewood-Flossmoor went into losing mode after taking a late lead against New Trier in last year’s Class 4A state semifinals.
“They tried to hold the ball for three minutes,” Fricke said. “It’s hard (to play defense for so long) when you have teams that are fast and have good ball handlers.”
The Central Suburban League toyed with the idea of requiring shot clocks for next season’s conference games, but it appears that won’t happen. Fricke and Deutsch believe it is the right decision.
“I’d rather it be in or out,” Fricke said, a sentiment Deutsch echoed.
As for whether shot clocks could affect the game, Loyola boys coach Tom Livatino said the answer is: not much.
The Ramblers, and to a lesser extent the Trevians boys, are known for playing low-scoring games. But, Livatino said, “the big mistake is that we have the ball.
“We’ve played with it the last two years and never had a shot clock violation.”
In fact, Livatino believes the Ramblers could benefit from having a shot clock on the other end of the floor because of their typically stingy defense.
In any case, he said: “We are very excited about the arrival of the shot clock… I wish it had arrived sooner.
“I’m glad there’s some forward thinking.”
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