BASKETBALL SHOT CLOCK OVER RATED SAYS THE ASSISTANT COACH

I witnessed history first hand at Key Arena this past weekend. It came during a boys basketball State Tournament game between an over matched 13-16 West Seattle team and a highly favored 22-3 Auburn team. On paper this was a mismatch, Auburn was ranked #2 for most of the season and sported a lineup of 6'4, 6'4, 6'4 while West Seattle had to win 3 loser out games just to get to the tournament. To make matters worse for West Seattle, they were without their leading scorer. This looked like the makings of a 30 point blowout; no way would they be in the game in the fourth quarter. But they were and what came out of this game will forever be inscribed in the record books as the lowest scoring game in State Tournament history. The final score 34-21 Auburn. It wasn' t the score that inspired me to write about this game in my blog but it was the way the game was played.


West Seattle coach Bob Wilzen had his players stall for 4-5 minutes every possession. They spread the floor and held the ball and held the ball and held ball as Auburn stayed in their zone. By the fourth quarter, West Seattle was down only 8 points and had the ball. THEY WERE REMARKABLY IN THE GAME. They had a chance to win. Most would agree that West Seattle did not belong in the game in the fourth quarter, in fact most would probably say both sides would have emptied their benches by this point. West Seattle had a chance to win.


What more can a coach do but to give his team a chance to win?


Ingenious. I really have to compliment coach Wilzen on his game plan and his kids for sticking to it. Now, it would have been better had they won and I think the game plan could have been better implemented at times but the game plan gave his kids hope. What more can you ask for?


I would also like to compliment the Auburn coach Ryan Hansen, he didn't give in. He stayed with his game plan and stayed in his zone. With both crowds booing, it is tough for a coach to stay true to what he believes. But Hansen did and it paid off. Hansen stated after the game that "they must come to us sometime" and he was right. West Seattle had to try to make up those 8 points and the game soon turned into a 13 point win for Auburn.



The point is...both coaches stuck with their game plans and gave their kids the best chance to win even though unpopular. This would never have happened if the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) had implemented a shot clock in boys basketball. Before seeing this game first hand, I too was leaning towards implementing a 45 second shot clock. I figured no one really uses more than a 1 minute or so to get a shot off so why not put in a shot clock. I thought a shot clock might speed up the game and make if more fun to watch, but then I witnessed history. I witnessed coaches making tough decisions and witnessed kids executing a game plan. I witnessed a close game. The high school game is not about the fans, it is about the kids. Which is better for the kids... a 30 point blowout or making history? West Seattle and Auburn made history, this game will always be remembered. Do you think this game would have been remembered if they played with a shot clock...probably not.


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