It may be time for a shot clock in Maine high school basketball. When you look at the number of low-scoring games, a shot clock, say a 35-second one, could be the answer to jump-start offenses.

There have been a number of low-scoring games this season. It’s no mystery that fans would much rather watch a game with teams going up and down the floor scoring points. The question is: would coaches?

Low-scoring games seem to be the trend in the SMAA, where teams struggle to reach 50 points.

On Tuesday, Westbrook beat Scarborough 32-31 in overtime while a few miles away in Windham, Cheverus downed the Eagles, 45-35. There have been other offensively challenged games this season, and the way things are heading, there will be more.

A shot clock would pick up the pace while also preventing teams from using slowdown or stalling tactics. Kennebunk used a slowdown Dec. 17 in a 31-25 loss to Cheverus. While it was a smart ploy that enabled the Rams to stay in the game, it had to be akin to watching paint dry.

“I think a shot clock has been needed for a while,” said Westbrook Coach Mark Karter. “I’m not sure some people would go for it. It would cost money and you would need people to run it.”

A faster pace would mean more shots and more points. When he was coaching at South Portland, Bob Brown said the goal was to take 75 shots per game.

“We didn’t mind how many shots we took,” said Brown. “We wanted to get up and down the floor.”

The Red Riots also had plenty of talent in the late 1970s, so shots came easy. They won state titles in 1979 and 1980, and scored a Class A tournament record 102 points in the 1979 state final. In their second state title season, Brown said the Riots averaged 80-plus points per game. And that was before the 3-point shot.

In his 10th season at Cheverus, where his Stags have won two state titles, his teams shoot the ball a lot less now.

“We’re putting the ball up 45 times, but we’re playing teams that are shooting only 25 times a game,” he said.

So what happened?

To be sure, not all games were high scoring 30 years ago. There were the clunkers back then. It just seems to be more of them now.

Brown can’t explain why.

“If we knew, we could fix it,” said.

Brown said it’s hard to pinpoint because players’ attitudes haven’t changed and neither has the quality of players. Maine high school basketball continues to produce players who move on to college.

He said coaches have their teams play conservatively because it gives them a chance of winning. Teams will score points because of mismatches, but overall most teams struggle to score. It’s time to shake things up.

“It only makes sense to have the shot clock because that’s what players will be moving on to,” said Brown, who also is no fan of the 3-point shot.

“It’s eliminated the medium- range jump shot,” he said.

The SMAA is known as a physical, defense-minded conference.

“The games are usually knock-down, drag-out fights,” said Karter. “I would love to see an 80-75 game but everyone is playing low. Teams are scoring in the 40s, some in the 50s and very few in the 60s.”

Early in the season, Thornton Academy leads the league at 66.8 points per game. The Golden Trojans have two of the top three scorers in the league in James Ek, the leader at 23.7 points per game, and Andrew Shaw, third at 17.7. Seven teams in the league are averaging fewer than 50 points per game.

“Sometimes conferences tend to play alike,” said Jeff Hart, coach of unbeaten Camden Hills, which has no trouble scoring. The Class B Windjammers are averaging 80 points per game.

“I can’t believe some of the scores I see,” said Hart. “I love defense but I hate 30-point games. Kids would rather play fast. You play more people in a fast-paced game and it’s a lot better.”

The SMAA graduated some good scorers from last season, so the talent could be a little down this season. Scarborough Coach Joe Johnson had a simple explanation for the low scores.

“I don’t think it’s good defense. It’s just bad offense,” he said.

CAMDEN HILLS (7-0) has continued to play at a high level despite not having standout Keegan Pieri, who has missed the last few games with an injury. Pieri is expected to return Tuesday against Winslow.

Coach Jeff Hart said Adam Carlsen and Taylor Hall have responded with more playing time in Pieri’s absence. “It’s made them grow up quicker,” he said.

All-State player Tyler McFarland has had several big-scoring games despite getting extra defensive pressure. His teammates have stepped up to help take some of the load off McFarland.

CHEVERUS HAS been missing junior standout Louie DiStasio, who suffered a torn calf muscle Dec. 14 at Westbrook. The Stags hope to have him back, if not tonight at home against Massabesic, then next Tuesday in a key matchup at Thornton Academy.

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

 

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