The biggest change in store for Iowa high school basketball games this winter is the addition of a 35-second shot clock for all varsity games.
The new shot clock rule, which is optional for the junior varsity and freshmen levels, has been long overdue according to many basketball enthusiasts. Others would prefer to see it remain out of the high school game.
Another debate is just how big an impact the shot clock will have on the average game.
Norwalk girls basketball coach Jill Martin remembers only about one shot clock violation from her team’s season-opening game at ADM, but she believes the new rule will have a significant effect.
“I think it’s good for the game,” Martin said. “I think it takes that stalling out at the end of quarters obviously. But I also think it rewards those defensive teams and those teams that put on a press or three-fourths press or something to at least take some time off [the clock].”
Martin feels that with the offensive style she hopes her team plays this season, the shot clock won’t be a factor. But she adds that the Warrior girls are excited to potentially use the shot clock to their advantage defensively.
Norwalk boys basketball coach Aaron Pelzer, meanwhile, doesn’t expect a big impact. He says that even though the Warriors played a very deliberate style last year to stay in games, he doesn’t remember a lot of possessions lasting more than 35 seconds.
Pelzer does feel that the shot clock could benefit the better-coached teams.
“I think you can be really creative with the shot clock, especially defensively, to really cause teams fits late in shot-clock situations,” he said. “I think the teams that are the most prepared for those late shot-clock situations will obviously take advantage of those things the most.
“I hope that we benefit from it, even though I don’t think it ultimately will have a huge impact on a lot of games.”
Following Tuesday’s cancellation of Norwalk’s games at Ballard, the Warriors will host Pella for a girl-boy doubleheader Friday night starting at 6:15 p.m.