SANDPOINT — It’s hard to believe that high school basketball is already back, but it is, and some big changes are being implemented by the Idaho High School Activities Association and the National Federation of State High Schools that may affect the way the game is played this year.

In the summer of 2022, the IHSAA board of directors approved the use of a 35-second shot clock in both boys and girls basketball, specifically for the 2023-24 state championship tournaments. However, the IHSAA did leave it up to individual conferences to decide whether or not they would implement the shot clock for their regular season and district tournaments. Conferences will also have the ability to to implement the shot clock at various levels — varsity, junior varsity, or freshman. Any school that does decide to use a shot clock will have to follow NFHS guidelines.

At today’s jamboree, which will be held at Sandpoint High School between Sandpoint, Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene, the new shot clock is going to be implemented. Sandpoint head girls basketball coach, Will Love, said several varsity and sub-varsity officials will be there to get some work in with the new rules and that all District 1 clock and score keepers have been invited to attend. The official plan for the jamboree is to play two 8-minute quarters per session with standard game rules. The shot clock will only be used during varsity sessions. 

In addition to a new shot clock, all high school basketball teams, nationwide, will shoot two free throws for common fouls when in the ‘bonus.’ This rule change eliminates the one-and-one scenario and sets new foul limits for each quarter.

According to a NFHS article published earlier this year, in addition to awarding two foul shots for all common fouls when a team is in the ‘bonus,’ teams will reach the bonus when their opponent commits five fouls in a quarter, with those fouls resetting at the end of each quarter. Previously, the rule was that teams were awarded the one-and-one bonus when their opponents committed seven fouls in a half and were awarded two foul shots once 10 fouls were committed in a half.

There will be an official positioned at the scorer's table to help train with the new shot clock and foul rules today. With the new rules in place, there are bound to be some issues, so it is important to remain patient as everyone adjusts.

Today’s schedule is as follows:

4:15: Coeur d’Alene JV vs. Sandpoint JV (White)

5:00 Post Falls JV vs. Sandpoint JV (White)

5:45: Sandpoint (White) vs. Coeur d’Alene 

6:30: Post Falls (White) vs. Coeur d’Alene

7:15: Sandpoint (White) vs. Post Falls