Macy Miller (5) of Fairbanks has the ball deflected while going to the basket earlier this week against Northeastern. The Lady Panthers won the game under the second-half running clock rule. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Over the past few years, there have been numerous lopsided scores on the Ohio high school basketball scene.
A local athletic director feels that prompted the Ohio High School Athletic Association to implement a new rule.
For the past five years, a running clock rule has been used during post-season tournament action.
The rule stated that a running clock would be used in the second half of any boys or girls tournament game in which one team holds and maintains a lead of at least 30 points.
Now, the legislation has been added to both boys and girls high school regular-season contests.
“I think the OHSAA looked at the lopsided scores that were being reported,” said Fairbanks High School athletic director Larry Morris.
“I think they realized the only way to fix the problem was for teams to play less time if scores get out of hand,” he said. “That would hold down some of the point totals.”
A prime example of that came Wednesday evening during a game that featured Fairbanks’ girls hosting Northeastern.
FHS held a 47-11 lead at halftime and went on to win 68-11.
The second half of Wednesday’s game (two, eight-minute quarters) was played in slightly less than 18 minutes, according to the time kept by Morris.
The new rule, which will extend into tournament action this season, states the running clock will be used in the second half if one team reaches an advantage of 35 points.
Regular time would resume if the lead falls below 30.
Just what does Morris, who formerly had successful stints as Fairbanks’ boys head coach, feel about the rule?
“It would depend on what end of it I was on,” he joked.
“Actually, it may force schools to try and balance skill levels between their teams and their opponents,” he said. “That would be a way of preventing it (the running clock) from happening.
“It could force teams to get better,” said Morris. “I think that would be good for the game.”
Under the rule, the game clock will only be stopped for team time-outs, an injured player on the court or when there is any unusual delay deemed necessary by the officials.
For instance, Wednesday’s second-half clock was briefly stopped when the ball went out of play and rolled into a back hallway at Fairbanks.
Morris, who feels the rule will stay on the OHSAA books past this season, would also like to see another new rule implemented for Ohio high school basketball.
“I’d like to see a shot clock,” he said.
A shot clock is used on professional and collegiate levels and has been debated for high school usage for a number of years.
“The National Federation of High School Sports has now left it up to each state’s high school sports association to determine whether a 35-second shot clock will be used,” Morris said.
States that currently permit the use of a shot clock are Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Washington, New York, California, North Dakota and South Dakota.
“As a former coach, I think it would be good for more attention to be paid to the clock,” said Morris. “I think it would be an exciting format for players and coaches.”