MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[smedindy]

If refs would actually enforce the 5-second rule properly, there would be no need for a shot clock. A team could still be rewarded by playing defense even if one team decided to hold the ball.

[Mr. Ypsi]

One of the funniest scenes I've ever seen in a game was a one-man stall.  Not by holding the ball (the refs would eventually call 5-seconds, after all), but because he was the best dribbler I've ever seen (I believe it was Bobby Jo Mason of Bradley - who did play later for the Globetrotters - but I can't recall for sure).  Eventually he had 4 defenders chasing him, but they never could trap him.  Of course, by that time he had teammates open all over the place, but the crowd was going so wild who's gonna pass?!  After nearly 5 minutes (why the other team never fouled, I have no clue) he did finally pass to a wide-open teammate under the basket - clinching points (going from 3 to 5 with now under a minute, if my memory is anywhere near accurate).

The four-corners (or other stalls) can be effective in neutralizing a superior opponent [though absolutely indefensible when down significantly and just trying to avoid a total butt-whipping], but it led directly to the shot clock.  There is a reason why 'keep away' remains a playground favorite, but has never become a major spectator sport!

[sac]

I love it when I get an opportunity to post this boy's high school score from Michigan


1-16-1996
Jackson Northwest 7 Haslett 6-----  5 Overtimes

[Li'l Giant]

I love it when I get an opportunity to post this boy's high school score from Michigan


1-16-1996
Jackson Northwest 7 Haslett 6-----  5 Overtimes

That can't possibly have been a fun game to watch. It's like soccer on hardwood. Barf.

[smedindy]

Well, it's better that than 101-6, right?

[David Collinge]

I love it when the Wabash guys go after one another...

[Li'l Giant]

Well, it's better that than 101-6, right?

No, I'd say they both suck and are both crappy games. It's like saying "getting stabbed is better than getting shot".

[pennstghs]

thats why a team almost comes into stall mode in high school hoops when they have a 6 point lead because they know the other team has to foul and they can just stall. I rarely see comebacks in high school games because of no shot clock existing. my brother's team coming back from 6 down with a minute to go and winning last week was an exception as they relied on some timely steals the old fashioned way.

[ScotsFan]

That is, until they implement a shot clock anyways...

There are no shot clocks in HS hoops in Ohio? Whoa.

I didn't know it was just an Ohio thing.  I thought that HS hoops didn't have a shot clock period.  There are states that actually implement a shot clock for HS hoops?  Maybe there is hope!

There is a reason why 'keep away' remains a playground favorite, but has never become a major spectator sport!

That's pretty much how I feel.  I just don't feel like watching a team pass and dribble for the majority of a basketball game with no intentions of scoring as my idea of entertainment.  And as pennstghs said, it really eliminates comebacks for the most part.  I highly doubt WashU rallies from 7 down to win vs. Brandeis in the game's final minute if there was no shot clock...  That is unless the team that is leading sucks at ft's.

[David Collinge]

After starting 1-5, Wittenberg now stands at 11-6.  To my mind, there is no conceivable scenario in which they win fewer than three of their last 8 games.  Three more victories give them 14 wins, which is enough to guarantee that they extend their phenomenal streak of non-losing seasons to 52, regardless of post-season results.  Although their remaining schedule is tough, there is a three-game stretch beginning Saturday where they face Hiram, Earlham, and Allegheny (two of them at home).  That 14th win will be in the books not later than next Saturday evening, Feb. 9.  So let me offer my congratulations to Bill Brown and the Tigers, if a tiny bit premature, for this great turnaround and extending this amazing streak.   

[Li'l Giant]

I didn't know it was just an Ohio thing.  I thought that HS hoops didn't have a shot clock period.  There are states that actually implement a shot clock for HS hoops?  Maybe there is hope!

I've been corrected by a friend that down here in The Republic apparently high school hoops has no shot clock either. I'll be honest, I didn't go to a single hoops game when I was in high school.

[Mr. Ypsi]

One alternative to the 'stall' or the 'foul fest'  - I saw Bradley U. (and this time I'm sure it was them!) come back from 7 down with <15 seconds to go (c. 1964, not sure of exactly the season).  Four consecutive inbounds steals will do that!

Admittedly, probably not something you want to count on!

[woosterbooster]

On my way to Atlanta a few years ago I stopped over in Lexington, took in a boys' high school game, and was amazed to find that they played with a shot clock.

[David Collinge]

Wooster's James Cooper started this season with 1,491 career points in 94 games (15.9 ppg.)  So far this season he has recorded 334 points (19.6), bringing his career total to 1,825 (16.4).  With eight games remaining, he'd have to average 21.9 ppg. the rest of the way to reach 2,000 in the regular season.  He's 133 points (16.6+) from passing Bryan Nelson and moving into second all-time on Wooster's scoring list; 1st place Tom Dinger is well out of reach at 2,370.

Further down the list, Devin Fulk now sits at 966 points and is poised to become the 32nd member of Wooster's 1,000-point club in the near future.  He's averaging 12.3 ppg this season (one of five Scots averaging in double figures), at which rate he'll reach the plateau against Hiram at home next week.

Not far behind him is junior Brandon Johnson, whose 217 points this season put him at 876 for his career.  Maintaining his 12.8 ppg average will put him over 1,000 10 games for now, which works out as the NCAC semifinals, should the Scots be fortunate enough to get that far. 

[David Collinge]

With the conference season half done, here's a quick glance at the statistical leaders.

Scoring:
Overall, James Cooper's 19.8 edges out Tristian Gregory (EC) 19.6.  Actually, this is a bit odd, as the NCAC credits Cooper with 336 points vs. the 334 (19.6) that Wooster says he has.  In conference games only, the leader is Andrew Zimmer of Wabash at 19.0, by a hair over Witt's Gregg Hill (18.9). 

Rebounding:
Allegheny's George Raftis is the clear leader at 9.6 (overall) and 11.8 (conference.)

Assists:
The overall leader is Wooster's Marty Bidwell (3.82) by one assist over Hiram's Mike Staley (3.76).  For conference games, it's the same teams but different dishers:  Woo's Brandon Johnson (3.75) leads Hiram's Nick Russo (3.63).

A/TO ratio:
Overall, the best in this category is OWU's Casey Teeters (2.21), just ahead of Marty Bidwell (2.17) and Nick Russo (2.15).  In conference action, the leader is Russo at 2.64, ahead of Kenyon's Josh Klinger (2.50 in limited action.)

FG%:
Three Wooster players are in the top 4 for all games, led by frosh Bryan Wickliffe (.579).  OWU's Jesse Jean is second at .571, just ahead of Devin Fulk (.569) and James Cooper (.537), both of whom are primarily jumpshot artists.  The leaders in conference play are Bishop teammates Jean (.625) and Kyle Holliday (.623), another jumpshooter.

3pt. FG%:
Three players are over 50% for the season: James Cooper (.524), Devin Fulk (.514), and Mike Staley (.508).  In conference play there are 8 players (from 6 teams) at .500 or better, led by Gary Simkus (Wabash) at .619 (13/21).

FT%:
The conference's best free throw shooter is OWU's Brian Cafarella, 33 of 34 for the season (.971).  Devin Fulk (31/32, .969) would be right behind, but doesn't meet the minimum for inclusion (2 makes per game.)  In conference play, with the same threshold, the leader is Oberlin's Jordan Beard at .909 (20/22).