Having a shot clock is still a real possibility for Pennsylvania high school basketball, but not before the 2024-25 season.
That’s what came out of a Wednesday meeting of the PIAA basketball committee. The committee consists of representatives of the 12 districts around the state, including the WPIAL (District 7). The committee makes recommendations to the PIAA and the PIAA board of directors votes on whether to approve the recommendations.
The basketball committee decided that if a shot clock would be instituted in the state, it would be a 35-second clock and the first season for the shot clock would be 2024-25. But the committee wants more opinions from schools before making a recommendation to the PIAA to adopt a shot clock.
Therefore, the PIAA will send a survey to athletic directors of all schools around the state, asking for feedback on a shot clock. Results of the survey will be gathered in the next few weeks and the PIAA basketball committee will meet again May 3. Then they will make a recommendation to the PIAA board, which could vote on the shot clock at its meeting later in May.
“The purpose of the survey is to get input from any stakeholders that schools want, from the coach, to the principal and even to the superintendent, if needed,” said Hampton athletic director Bill Cardone, who represents the WPIAL on the PIAA basketball committee.
Cardone said he couldn’t guess whether the majority of the basketball committee wants a shot clock. He said the PIAA wants to give schools information about the adoption of a shot clock. Last year, the National Federation of State High School Associations, which makes rules for all high schools in the country, approved the use of a shot clock, starting with the 2022-23 season. However, the NFHS is letting each state decide whether to adopt a shot clock. More than a dozen states already have approved a shot clock while others are deciding in the next few months
“Obviously, there are still debates,” Cardone said. “I think the survey is a good thing to get a feel of what everybody thinks. If I had to guess, I think it’s inevitable it’s going to come.”
Four years ago, the Post-Gazette surveyed every boys and girls coach in the WPIAL and City League. A total of 117 coaches responded, and 71% wanted to see a shot clock instituted. Cardone said Glenn Anderson, president of the Pennsylvania Basketball Coaches Association, surveyed many coaches in the state about the shot clock. Of 359 coaches who responded, 77% want a shot clock.
Some schools don’t want a shot clock because of cost. Depending on scoreboards that schools use, it could cost up to $10,000 to install a shot clock system. Also, there will be a cost to schools to have someone run the shot clock during games. The PIAA basketball committee decided a shot clock should be used only for varsity and junior varsity games, and not for freshman or seventh- and eighth-grade games.
“We decided to delay it for two years because schools’ budgets might already be done and the allocated funds needed probably are not included in a budget,” Cardone said.
Bears resigns at Bethel
Josh Bears has been a head boys basketball coach for 18 seasons at three different WPIAL schools, and owns a WPIAL championship. But he has decided he has had enough — for now.
Bears has resigned as Bethel Park’s coach after seven seasons. He also coached Blackhawk for one year and West Allegheny for 10. He won a WPIAL title at West Allegheny in 2007.
Bears, 46, said he is stepping away to spend more time with his family. He and his wife have two sons, ages 4 and 2.
“I know that might be a cliché to spend more time with your family, but it’s a cliché for a reason,” Bears said. “I did the math the other night. I’ve spent 31 straight seasons in a gym, going back to when I was a player. Twenty-six of those years were without kids, so it was easy.
“Now for almost five years, I have two little boys at home and I want to be at home and be a better Dad. It’s just gotten to that phase of my life right now.”
