THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 19,1997 TAG: 9701210114
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: James C. Black
LENGTH: 64 lines
Now, don't get me wrong. I enjoy basketball. I enjoy the game at all levels. Yet, there's an annoying pace to some high school contests that affects the enjoyment of the game. My solution - a shot clock.
I am not saying that every high school game moves at a snail's pace. Most, in fact, feature the up-and-down, fast-breaking style some of the youth want to display at a higher level.
But then you have some other games; ones that move slower than frozen molasses. Games that draw more yawns than cheers.
In defense of these bore-you-to-death contests, I see how that happens.
Some teams know they could not play the wide-open, run-and-gun style practiced on the playgrounds. Nah, they have to play the slowdown game - ``since we can't run with you, we're going to hold the ball.''
In many states, there are no rush requirements for high schools. The rules allow teams to hold the ball until they're fouled or until they want to take a shot.
I was told by one of my esteemed colleagues, the one whose mug shares the page, that the 1988 Maury-Indian River Eastern region boys quarterfinal was one of the ``most memorable high school games.'' Not necessarily one of the best, though, he acknowledges. The final score: 20-19 in triple overtime.
Please get me a videotaped copy of this classic. Or better yet, send me back in time so I could see this legendary game for myself. Let me see an Indian River team with a 6-foot-10 Alonzo Mourning score 20 points in 41 minutes. When I heard the numbers 20 and 19, I assumed those were Zo's statistics: 20 points, 19 rebounds. In fact, I even asked Paul: ``You mean 120-119, right?''
Now from Maury coach Jack Baker's point of view, he did the right thing. Why should he get into a shootout if he had no artillery? If you have the option between being blown out and playing a style that gives you a chance to win, which would you choose? But is this really basketball? How hard is it to bounce pass and reverse dribble your way out of a trap if your strategy is to hold the ball? There's no challenge in this.
Last weekend on the Classic Sports Network, I was fortunate to see Maryland's overtime upset victory of No. 1 North Carolina at the new Dean Smith Center on Feb. 20, 1986. Great game.
The late Len Bias scored 35 points and did everything he could in setting back the Tar Heels. Yet, this game had a weird feeling to it. There was no 3-point line at the time.
Could you imagine walking into Chicago's United Center, Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium or any high school gym where there is no 3-point arc? That's how I feel when I attend a high school game without a shot clock.
STATES WITH A HIGH SCHOOL SHOT CLOCK
California _ girls
Maryland - girls
Massachusetts - girls
New York - boys and girls
Illinois - boys
National Federation of State High School Associations MEMO: Paul White is sports editor of the Portsmouth Currents; James
Black is sports editor of the Suffolk Sun. Periodically, they will take
opposing views on topics of interest.