It's a new era of high school basketball in the state with the debut of a shot clock for the 2023-24 season. It will be in use for all varsity boy's and girl's games.
Minnesota State High School League executive director Erich Martens tells the WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar it should make for more exciting finishes.
"I think it allows for the offense to have to continue to operate in an offensive set and look for a shot, and get a shot off withing 35 seconds," says Martens. "That team on defense does not have to come out and have to foul intentionally to get them on the line. I think it does make it safer at the end of the game."
Martens says it will make for less choppy finishes and speed up games as well.
"But generally, the game is a pretty up-tempo game right now," Martens says. "So, our students are used to that. It's how they like to play the game. I do think it can have some real benefits for the end of contests as we go forward."
The 35-second shot clock was approved by the High School League in 2021. While some schools have already been using it, all schools in the state are required to use it this season.
Minnesota is the 13th state association to adopt a shot clock for varsity-level basketball games. Others include Iowa (both boys and girls associations), North Dakota, South Dakota, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Washington.