Kansas basketball teams are ready for the shot clock era of KSHSAA basketball games

MAIZE, Kan. (KWCH) – On Monday night, basketball fans saw a new addition to the basketball halls of Maize and Maize South high schools for the first time.

The AVCTL programs hosted jamborees and presented the newest edition at 125 gyms across Kansas – a Shot Clock.

At the NFHS’s suggestion, the KSHSAA gave schools the option to adopt a 35-second shot clock for the regular season. Only 37% of schools have opted to implement a shot clock this year, and the KSHSAA will consider future use in the postseason and regular seasons after this year.

Of the programs in 4A, 6A and 6A, 91 schools will use the shot clock, as opposed to just 17 that will not participate. Abilene and Pratt are the only teams that do not use a shot clock.

Only 34 programs in 3A and below use a shot clock, while 198 choose not to.

KSHSAA is relying on AVCTL Commissioner Keith Kinley and his league to pave the way in Kansas.

“Being first and taking the storm in the competitive game of basketball and high school track and field – we want to make sure we are prepared and do everything right,” Kinley said.

The goal is to eliminate potential scenarios — particularly in the postseason — where teams start stalling possession and holding the ball for minutes while leading, and to prepare players for the use of shot clocks in college basketball.

“I think it will be a long time coming. We hope to keep girls going into the world of college basketball and this prepares them for it,” Bishop Carroll girls basketball coach Taylor Dugan said. “We will really see it in later game scenarios. Now you can just play and it’s much more fun. So when you’re down, you get a chance, so I think that’s great.”

The move received an overwhelmingly positive response from coaches, including Andover’s Martin Shetlar.

“I think it’s really good for high school. This is how basketball should be played,” Shetlar said. “It will make teams play and not hold the ball. It’ll be a good thing for basketball, a good thing for our kids.”

All programs in AVCTL and GWAL will use it, along with other programs in the area including Wichita Collegiate, Scott City, Goodland and Colby.

They will be used for the first time in the regular season, with Week 1 starting this Friday.

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