The high school basketball championship game in Wisconsin between Milwaukee Juneau and Cambridge proves it is time for every state to implement a universal shot clock. Teams should not be allowed to stand completely still at the top of the key for more than two minutes.
Games, especially in the postseason, should not be decided by stalling.
This latest high school basketball postseason strategy should help to move the needle in favor of a shot clock moving forward. The Pioneers were not required to try and score so they didn’t.
Wisconsin high school basketball does not use a universal shot clock.
Approximately 35% of the country does not require its teams to shoot within a defined period of time. Although the number of states that use a shot clock continues to grow each year, the offense is still allowed to hold the ball for as long as it wants in 18 of 50 states. Wisconsin is one of them.
Opposition to the universal shot clock is based on performance and cost.
First and foremost, bad teams are forced to take even more bad shots with a shot clock, which means scores will get even more out of hand. A shot clock will not increase the level of play.
Smaller schools may not be able to afford a shot clock. It can cost thousands of dollars to install an adequate system and it would require schools to hire an extra official to watch the clock at every game.
However, the lack of official count at every high school basketball game leads to an equally poor product. Teams are able to prevent their opponent from mounting a comeback by refusing to shoot the ball. That is not how the game is supposed to be played. Even if it is a smart strategy, it defeats the entire purpose.
Milwaukee Juneau beat Cambridge by stalling.
The WIAA played its Division 4 state championship game at the Kohl Center on Saturday. Milwaukee Juneau High School ultimately defeated Cambridge High School by a final score of 62-54.
The Pioneers scored 38 points in the paint. Dooney Johnson and Jaden Hardiman combined for 40.
The game featured 12 lead changes in total. It was a physical band-and-forth contest… until it wasn’t.
Milwaukee Juneau went up by two during the second half held the ball for more than 90 seconds and got booed by the crowd.
Milwaukee Juneau, leading by 2 in the State title game, holds the ball for 90+ seconds before calling a timeout.
— Karl Winter (@KarlWinterTV) March 21, 2026
Boos rain down at the Kohl Center.#wisbb pic.twitter.com/KRlSKAnoAa
The Pioneers exploited the lack of shot clock to prevent the Bluejays from mounting a comeback by running out the game clock.
Shot clock now @wiaawi pic.twitter.com/P7RQ7XHbsx
— Brett (SaldinoWRLD) (@SaladinoWR1D) March 21, 2026
They used the exact same stalling strategy during the semifinal. It works!
Cambridge actually tried to come out and guard the ball but Milwaukee Juneau is one of the best offenses in the state so the extra pressure left the defense exposed, which led to easy open looks.
When asked about the strategy after the game, head coach Torre Johnson Jr. said he will do whatever it takes to win. If the state is not going to mandate a shot clock, he has the right to hold the ball on offense!
"I just want to win."
— Karl Winter (@KarlWinterTV) March 21, 2026
Coach Torre Johnson Jr.'s explanation when asked about this possession: pic.twitter.com/NBRNWonWiD
There is no doubt that the Pioneers were the better team. A shot clock would at least force them to try and score instead of holding the ball for up to three minutes at a time.