Georgia High School Basketball Teams Adjust to 35 Second Shot Clock

The Georgia high school basketball regular season is in the books. All teams played this year with a 35-second shot clock.
It was mandatory by the GHSA. So what impact did the 35-second shot clock have? We caught up with a few area coaches for answers.

The shot clock is certainly not as stressful as the countdown clock from the
TV show 24 because area coaches kind of like it.
Said Christian Heritage head coach Tyler Watkins:”I’ve really enjoyed it. Teams can’t stall. They have to play offense. Towards the end of the game is where it becomes a factor I think. You can’t just sit there and hold it for two minutes.”
Said Dalton head coach Ryan

Scoggins:”The only time I see it come into play is like in the fourth quarter. When it’s a tight game and no longer can a team take that last two-and-a-half or three minutes and really go into a stall game.”
Ringgold’s Josh Hensley believes the shot clock has impacted an area most people wouldn’t think of.
Said Hensley:”Where you see the biggest issue is they are using the shot clock for the ten second count at half court. So you’re seeing more ten second violations because instead of an official counting, they’re looking to see when the shot clock hits 25, and they’re blowing the whistle.”
We all like offense, but coaches dig what the shot clock has done for defense.
Said Hensley:”I think from a defensive standpoint it’s easier to get kids to understand ok, just defend for thirity seconds, and then we can get the ball back and go. I think it’s more of a motivational tool for the defensive end.”
Said Scoggins:”It has helpful to know that you don’t have to go. If you have a kid in foul trouble, you may not have to waste that foul.”
Said Watkins:”We like to pack it in. Make you come to us a little bit, so it’s really helped up a lot to where we can still play the defense that we want to play to our identity.”