Coaches’ Corner- Managing Shot Clock at End of Quarters

Normally, the major decision at the end of quarters with the shot clock is whether a coach wants to go 2 for 1 possessions. In the NBA with the 24 second shot clock. If a team gets the ball with 40 seconds to go in the quarter, does a team want to shoot by 30 seconds to go, so they can get a second possession. 

In high school with a 35 second shot clock, it could still be possible. If a team gets the ball with 55 seconds left in a quarter, they would want to shoot by 45 seconds to get the second possession. 

But there is another end of quarter strategy coaches are more likely to want to use. 

If the opposing team scores with 42 seconds left in the quarter, in theory if you use all 35 seconds, the other team still gets 7 seconds to score. 

But if they score at 42 seconds, and you are either slow inbounding the ball or if you roll the ball inbounds- you may take away some of their 7 seconds. 

When you roll the ball, the game clock keeps running but your shot clock does not start until you pick it up. 

Obviously these are all things to think about offensively, but defensively you may want to make sure at the end of quarters to get up so they can’t roll the ball.