Run4Fun2009 wrote:I kinda agree with you winner. I would like to see the switch to halves instead of quarters...everyone else around us seems to have made the move (All classes in MN and Class A in ND)
While you may be right about all classes in Minnesota and Class A in North Dakota. You would be wrong to assume that everyone else around us is playing halves.
The NFHS (National Federation of High School Assossiations) rules indication high school basketball be played with four 8-minute quarters and no shot clock. As a matter of fact, the NDHSAA is a non-voting member of NFHS because Class A has had a shot clock for more than 3 years. NFHS rules allow states to implement an experimental rule for up to 3 years. Since Class A has had a shot clock for more than three years, the NFHS does not sanction ND Class A basketball, and the NDHSAA is a non-voting member.
We aren't in this thread to debate the shot-clock, and as I have said in other threads, I don't think the shot clock will have an impact on Class B basketball when two good teams play each other. My fear is that when a good teams play bad teams. Good teams will no longer beable to demonstrate sportsmanship by running a minute of the clock with a 30 point lead. The will be forced to shoot again and again and we will end up with a flood of 130-19 type scores. I think with the shot clock coming to Class B, we need to simultaneously implement a mercy rule to prevent these types of blowouts.
As for playing 18 minute halves, I don't bring up the NFHS to imply that ND must be followers of the rest of the nation; I brought it up to dispell any myths that "everyone else is playing halfs and ND is behind the times," because that simply isn't true. Also, while I don't necessarily think we need to be followers, I think it's nice to have our sport sanctioned by the NFHS and that it would also be nice for the NDHSAA to be a voting member.
As for 18 minute halfs in Class B basketball? Class A can handle 18 minute halves because of their depth. Moving the game from 32 minutes with two quarter breaks to 36 minutes with no quarter breaks requires teams to go
at least 8 or 9 deep running not just 3 to 4 warm bodies off the bench, but 3 to 4 actual varsity ballplayers. Class A can handle finding that many capable student-athletes year after year. Class B schools very rarely go any deeper than 7.
I've labeled the shot-clock as a "no-impact" change except in great team vs. terrible team blowout situations. 18 minute halves would be a negative impact change for Class B basketball. Right now the North Stars, Bertholds, New Rockfords, and Parshalls of the state are extrememly competitive with the Graftons and the Carringtons (thus a 3-class system isn't necessary). 18 minute halfs would put the North Stars and the Bertholds at a nearly insurmountable disadvantage against the Graftons and the Carringtons.