The shot clock in high school basketball

Mike Ridaught, my partner in crime for broadcasts of UNF women's basketball games, sent out an article on a low scoring game that took place last week. (http://jacksonville.com/sports/high_school/2009-01-11/story/pointless_strategy_results_in_victory) For those who can't click on the link, the halftime score was well, scoreless with Mandarin defeating Sandalwood by the football score of 17-14.

This then begs the question as to if a shot clock should be implemented in high school basketball. I am of the opinion that there should be a shot clock for the following reasons:

1) Games like this one just make the game look bad. Who in the world wants to actually watch a game that is scoreless at the half and only 31 points are scored for the entire contest? My niece's six year old team scores more in a quarter than that!!

2) A shot clock helps kids get ready for the next level. I have seen kids on the UNF women's squad who have no clue how to manage the shot clock. I have seen countless 30 second violations because it is almost like the kid doesn't remember the clock is even there. Implement the rule and players will be better prepared to play at the collegiate level.

Here are some of the responses from Mike's e-mail:

A shot clock would be nice, but likely won't happen because of finances. Would cost too much to put in every school.

Boy that's really teaching the kids a lesson. "Hey guys, lets try to find a loophole in the rules so that we can win" "Lets dont try and work hard in practice and try with everything we have to win the game" "Instead lets (in a round-a-bout way) cheat to win"

Way to be a leader coach! I'm guessing he would tell me that he's teaching them to be winners?!? Yeh, you bet coach!

ACD / Rex Morgan, would do the same thing with 2-3 minutes remaining in each of the 4 quarters of almost every game. What a weak move. There's a time and a place to ice the clock. Not taking a shot the entire quarter, and icing it with 3 minutes to go, is not the time and place

I find any coach that does that appalling. I guess I just miss the lesson learned from kids playing the game that way.

Shot clock MUST BE implemented.

If schools are having to drop games and sports, they probably can't pay for shot clocks. This is the world we live in right now.

Opinions are welcomed........