By WMBD TV
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — High school summer leagues are wrapping up this week as teams are preparing the for the upcoming basketball season in a couple months.
One thing players really haven’t seen this summer is the shot clock. They will see plenty of it this fall.
A 35-second shot clock will be used in every varsity game for girls and boys basketball in Illinois starting this season.
“It would be nice to have it in the summer but we’ve been lucky,” said Pekin boys basketball coach Jeremy Crouch. “We’ve had a shot clock for four or five years in our (Pekin Insurance) holiday tournament. We’ve been able to practice with it. I think it will lead to better basketball.”
Most summer leagues are not using the shot clock but teams understand that element will be a permanent fixture in Illinois high school hoops soon.
“I think the shot clock will be great for us. I think it’s great for basketball,” said IVC girls basketball coach Brianna Morrow. “I think our kids have adapted better than I think people expected us to.”
Players and coaches have had a few years to get accustomed to the shot clock. The Illinois High School Association allowed limited use of shot clocks starting in 2022.
Teams started using shot clocks in tournaments and shootouts four years ago. Then in 2024, the IHSA board voted to implement full use of the shot clock starting this 2026-27 season.
“Games we played with the shot clock (in recent years), there wasn’t a huge impact for the first three quarters,” said U-High boys basketball coach Andrew McDowell. “But the end of games will be more exciting.”
That means, no more holding the ball and running out the clock.
Still, not everybody agrees that the shot clock should be universal in Illinois High School basketball. Including McDowell.
“What’s wrong with David holding the ball against Goliath? I’d like to keep it (out) of our game, if I had to pick,” McDowell said. “But I’m not complaining about it.”
WMBD TV first reported this story. You can read the original story online at CIProud.com.
