Will probably never see it again

[Pantherdreams]

Not quite this extreme, but a lot of delay game happens with really high frequency in Maine. You get any sort of lead substantial lead in the 3rd or 4th quarter and losing team is not likely to get enough possessions to even work a come back.

Its a tactic and it works, as an official it makes life a little easier on my legs. As a basketball fan I want to smack everyone involved in games with high school kids where it is about the coaches and not the players.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by Pantherdreams

Not quite this extreme, but a lot of delay game happens with really high frequency in Maine.

Actually, how'd this for a Friday night regional quarterfinal girls' score...?

25-9. Yes, that's a final.

Bottom line, the team who was behind was playing a 3-2 zone. Read on.

Here's the story. (The attached video is for a different game.)

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by bainsey

Actually, how'd this for a Friday night regional quarterfinal girls' score...?

25-9. Yes, that's a final.

Bottom line, the team who was behind was playing a 3-2 zone. Read on.

Similar one around here last Friday. Boys varsity, final score: 29-11. Visitors scored only in the odd-numbered quarters (and barely in the third).

Hudson Boys Basketball Team - cleveland.com

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Pantherdreams

As a basketball fan I want to smack everyone involved in games with high school kids where it is about the coaches and not the players.

Respectfully disagree. Working a patient offense like this is not very easy for a high school age kid. Not many kids can pull it off. It takes skill, discipline, and patience. I will agree with you that it is difficult for the coach to teach his kids this, but it's also difficult for the kids to learn this. Exciting, probably not, unless you're the fan of an underdog team that works all week in practice to give itself a chance to win, and actually pulls it off on Friday night.

[Adam]

I still don't understand why people hate this type of thing. It's an additional tactic that overmatched teams can employ to try to stay even and possibly win a game. It's one of the reasons I'm glad my state does not use the shot clock.

[APG]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I still don't understand why people hate this type of thing. It's an additional tactic that overmatched teams can employ to try to stay even and possibly win a game. It's one of the reasons I'm glad my state does not use the shot clock.

Well I hate the tactic. This tactic isn't basketball to me. If I want to watch this tactic, I'll watch clips from the 50's.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by AllPurposeGamer

Well I hate the tactic. This tactic isn't basketball to me. If I want to watch this tactic, I'll watch clips from the 50's.

Some feel the same way about last minute fouls. To me, if a team is able to play keep-away for that long, more power to them.

[APG]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Some feel the same way about last minute fouls. To me, if a team is able to play keep-away for that long, more power to them.

I dunno...I don't see the two tactics in the same light. I don't view keep away as basketball. I can say, I've been fortunate never to be involved in a game like this.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by AllPurposeGamer

I dunno...I don't see the two tactics in the same light. I don't view keep away as basketball. I can say, I've been fortunate never to be involved in a game like this.

The only way they can "keep it away" is if the defense lets them. It is not like this is on the offense only. They could come out and guard to change this all together.

Peace

[Adam]

Originally Posted by AllPurposeGamer

I dunno...I don't see the two tactics in the same light. I don't view keep away as basketball. I can say, I've been fortunate never to be involved in a game like this.

I've never had it happen to that extent. My point wasn't whether your or I see them as the same; but that there are quite a few who feel last minute fouling "isn't basketball." I disagree with them just as I disagree with you on this. It's not as if they're turning down layups; they're running their offense looking for layups and being extremely patient and disciplined.

Even if they were turning down layups; do we ever condemn the team that's leading by 4 with 10 seconds left when they actually turn down a wide open layup and pass the ball around for 10 seconds?

[BillyMac]

I observed one of these games about twenty years ago after one of my my junior varsity games. Very small, unranked, Catholic high school, with it's best basketball behind it, just a year away from closing due to low enrollment, at a very large, public, urban, high school, with two future Division I players on the roster, ranked in the top five in the state. Catholic school only shot layups, not a single jump shot. The public school team ended up winning, something like 21 to 17, but the Catholic school team was in it until the end, and would have won if it had hit a few more free throws. Catholic school coach's son was the point guard, his dad was a state coach of the year, point guard has gone on to became a successful coach in his own right. It was one of the most exciting games I've ever observed. At first the home crowd was upset about the tactics, but began to realize that this was a special kind of game, and eventually got into it like any other game.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by AllPurposeGamer

I don't view keep away as basketball.

I had a spirited discussion with someone who feels the same way. That guy teaches at the high school that was on the losing end of the game I link-posted earlier, so perhaps "consider the source" plays a role here.

This can be an emotional issue. Those that want the shot clock can be very adamant. I tend to believe that having a shot clock for every high school game -- varsity, JV, freshmen -- will cause far more problems than the number of stall-ball games they'll prevent. I foresee shot-clock reset errors cause bigger issues in games than stall-ball ever will.

Someone else pointed out that fundamentals have taken such a whack at the high school level, that a shot clock will only create more sloppy play. Honestly, I don't see a shot clock happening in the northeast corner for a long while.