BEMIDJI-Minnesota high school basketball team is about to usher in shooting time. How will they change the sport?

We will not be sure until at least the 2023-24 season, when the Minnesota State High School League teams will adopt a new 35-second countdown clock. After years of controversial debate and multiple failed attempts, the MSHSL board unanimously approved a motion on Thursday, December 2 to start the shooting clock at the university level within two years.

"One thing I like is that the situation will change at the end of the game," said BHS men's basketball coach Steve Thompson. "You don't have to foul early. The game is constantly evolving, and they use the shooting clock for the next level. This is a great way to prepare kids for this."

Bemidji's women's coach Steve Schreiber believes that the implementation of the new timer will help improve the foundation of elite basketball talents Minnesota has cultivated in recent years-such as Paige Bueckers, Jalen Suggs and Chet Holmgren, to name a few.

"I think we are just a pretty big pioneer in the AAU Tour and all these aspects," Schreiber said. "The growth we have achieved in a state like Minnesota is very remarkable-we are not California, we are not Texas, we are not Florida, we are not New York-but we can immediately have other ownership we are launching Of talented states together.

"This is just the last icing on the cake, and now we will also have a shooting clock, which will make us a great match for college basketball games."

The BHS women's basketball team huddled together and suspended during the game against Sartell-St. on December 3, 2021. Stephen at the BHS Stadium. (Jillian Gandersey/Bemidji Pioneer)

Adjustments will not only affect gameplay, but also affect school budgets. The school district will have to buy a new clock and pay another worker to run each game with funds from their own vault.

"Logically speaking, I think there are some concerns because there is not a lot of money to buy (shooting clocks) and other items anywhere now," said Troy Hendricks, Bemidji's event director.

Nevertheless, Hendricks believes that BHS can solve this problem. If they want to abide by the new rules, they will have to do so, and the new rules will require the use of batting clocks in MSHSL matches.

Hendricks said: "Several companies that I work with have stated that they will provide me with figures about the cost." "I mean, everyone will order these things. So they will be able to give them here soon. I have a pretty reliable number."

Tom Crichley, executive director of the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association, said that Daktronics estimates that the cost of installing one of the clocks is $3,700, which would be even lower if the school already has Daktronics scoreboards.

Currently, if the team has equipment and chooses to use it, the batting clock can be used in regular season non-conference games and tournaments. The new regulations only apply to the school team level, but if two schools in any competition agree, the school can use them at a lower level.

Once the shooting clock is installed, they will change the X and O at the varsity level. The team will have to take time to develop strategies for what to do if the clock is late and at the end of halftime.

Schreiber believes that shorter shooting times will also increase the excitement of the game and prevent delays when a team decides to have the ball. The most notorious example is the men's semifinal between Hopkins and Shakopi in 2014, when Hopkins stopped the ball for a few minutes in the regular season and four overtime.

"I think it creates a fast-paced style of basketball that looks very interesting," Schreiber said. "It's fun to play. I really think it gives an advantage to a better basketball team."