Henning School utilized shot clocks last season on trial basis

By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

It’s a new era of high school basketball strategy all across Otter Tail County.

New this year in Minnesota is that offensive players, when heading down court, have only 35 seconds to attempt a basketball shot.

Gone are the days when a team, with a five-point lead or so, would go into a stall with about three or four minutes left in a game. The only way for the opponent to regain possession of the basketball was to foul a player and hope that one or two free throws would not be made.

This season, if a basketball shot is not taken after 35 seconds, a buzzer is sounded and the other team gets possession.

“This is one of the best additions to high school basketball ever made,” said one person after reading a guest story submitted by freelance writer Heather Rule to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “You don’t develop players by holding on to the ball and stalling, plus it’s boring.” 

Rule interviewed Henning boys basketball coach and activities director Randy Misegades, Section 6A coaches representative for the Minnesota Boys Basketball Coaches Association.

“I think it’s a good change,” Misegades said. “You just have to keep playing the game, instead of watching kids shoot free throws the last handful of minutes.”

Players can see the shot clock and number of seconds remaining just above each of the backboards. Some coaches believe use of shot clocks will open up the game, with higher scores. 

Time will tell.