The implementation of a 35 second shot clock in Wyoming high school basketball was the topic of discussion during SVI Radio‘s Weekday Wakeup morning show on Tuesday morning.

Wyoming High School Activities Association Commissioner Ron Laird said during an interview on First Bank of Wyoming Sports Friday that it’s not if, but when, a shot clock is implemented.

“We actually took it out to our schools in September and had the discussion with them about it and then we came back in October when we met again and we took a vote,” explained Laird. “We had 28 schools that were in favor of adding the shot clock and 40 that were against adding the shot clock.”

According to Laird, schools who voted against the shot clock cited the additional costs and the need for another clock operator at the games.

“If I have two or three gyms I’m taking that shot clock expense times two and times three,” Laird said. “The other thing is a lot of our schools are struggling to get a scorekeeper and someone to run the regular clock and now you’ve got to find another person to do that. Those are probably the two main reasons it was defeated.”

Laird went on to say that schools are looking for solutions to the costs and personnel issues, and that he expects in the coming years a shot clock proposal will be brought back to the table. If that happens it would need to be approved by a majority vote from the schools, approved by the WHSAA board, and then go through a second approval process by vote and board approval. “It won’t happen next year for Wyoming.  But I really think it’s not a matter of if it’s going to happen, it’s when.”

If implemented, the shot clock would give teams 35 seconds from the time they posses the ball to the time they must put up a shot that hits the rim. If the team is unable to do so it would result in a turnover. A made shot attempt will reset the shot clock as the apposing team takes possession and inbounds the ball. If a missed shot hits the rim, the shot clock would reset to another 35 seconds to the team that rebounds the ball.

During SVI Radio’s Text-In Topic, Duke & Dahl asked listeners for their opinion on implementing a shot clock in Wyoming high school basketball. Below are their responses. Feel free to add your opinion in the comments section.

In favor of shot clock

“Shot clock? ABSOLUTELY!!!”

“I’m all for using the shot clock. There is learning that takes place in football and there is a play clock to speed the game up so why not basketball I feel it’s practically the same concept. Also in wrestling a wrestler will be warned and then punished with a loss of a point if they stall the clock out so why can’t basketball players at the same age pass the ball around faster and get things set up quicker.”

“Heaven yes- if Idaho schools have done it it makes sense for us to do it.” (Note: As of Feb. 2 Idaho has not implemented a shot clock, although neighboring Montana and Utah have.)

“Heck yeah, we teach them to stand around and throw the ball around the three-point line stall when we should be playing ball.”

“Yes please, please, please.”

“Yes!! We need to get the game going!!”

“We definitely need a shot clock, that’ll speed the game up a little and force teams to not pass the ball around so much which can get boring to watch.”

Not in favor of shot clock

“No. High school is still learning plays for basketball. No shot clock.”

“I think the shot click adds stress that is counter-productive to a learning environment.”

“I don’t want a shot clock.”

“In high school you do not have the luxury of recruiting the type of players you want. You work with what you have. Coaches then do their best to utilize their talent or lack of talent. The shot clock takes one tool out of the coaches’ toolbox. I’m not in favor of a shot clock.”

“No shot clock ever in my book.”