Indiana Girls High School Basketball Team Pulls Upset Win By Refusing To Shoot The Ball Without Shot Clock

Indiana still does not have a shot clock for high school basketball. A recent attempt to get with the times was rejected by an overwhelming vote in favor of “tradition.”

As we saw earlier this week, the failed proposal often leads to a terrible on-court product.

With no reason to shoot, high school basketball teams are able to stall. They don’t have to shoot!!

Indiana high school basketball does not have a shot clock.

The state of Indiana likes to say: “In 49 states, it’s just basketball… but this is Indiana!” The line, which was coined by an advertising copywriter in 1998, celebrates the deep obsession with basketball in the Hoosier State.

Although the sport of basketball is a very big deal in Indiana, the state refuses to stay current in the sport. Indiana is one of only 18 states that does not mandate a shot clock for high school basketball. That applies to both girls and boys.

A shot clock requires teams to shoot at the basket within a set period of 35 seconds. Indiana voted against a shot clock in May. The decision was rooted in two key points:

• If there is a shot clock, scores will get even more out of hand.
  • Bad teams are forced to take even more bad shots.
  • Many coaches don’t believe a shot clock will increase the level of play.
• The cost of installing and operating a shot clock can be prohibitive for the smallest schools.
  • Adequate shot clock systems can cost thousands of dollars.
  • Schools would need to hire an extra official for every game to watch the shot clock.

The Indiana High School Athletic Association voted against a shot clock by a vote of 17-1. If it had cited the above reasons for its decision, fine. That was not the case. The IHSAA cited “tradition.”

Heritage Hills tried to stall against Mater Dei.

As a result of the 17-1 vote, Indiana will not have a shot clock until at least 2029. At least.

To play without a show clock allows the offense to hold possession for as long as it wants. The offensive player must pass the ball to his teammate if the defense applies pressure within six feet for five seconds, but the offense is still not required to shoot. It can play keep away from its opponent. Players can continuously pass the ball around the arc.

That often leads to an awful on-court product.

A boys high school basketball team in Wisconsin won the state championship by standing completely still on offense. A girls team in Michigan won its semifinal playoff game by refusing to shoot the ball. There was even a boys team in Kentucky that managed to avoid serious foul trouble by not shooting. It is not good basketball.

In Indiana specifically, Hanover Central and Lowell both refused to shoot the ball on offense during the playoffs and played to a final score of 18-13 last season. It was the second-lowest combined score of any sectional game in the class era. Crown Point was also booed by a sold-out crowd for holding the ball at the top of the key for more than a minute during the state championship.

Unfortunately, because of the failed proposal to mandate a shot clock, the stalling trend continues in 2026.

Heritage Hills played Mater Dei (Evansville) in girls high school basketball earlier this week. The former is slightly bigger than the latter but they are two of the better teams in their respective classes. The Patriots compete in Class 3A. Wildcats compete in Class 2A.

Mater Dei actually jumped out to a a 28-15 lead right before halftime. It decided to park the bus at the end of the second quarter and stalled its offensive possession at the top of the key for more than 90 seconds.