The highly anticipated shot clock is scheduled to make its debut in Illinois high school basketball starting in the 2026-27 school year, as officially announced by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) on Tuesday. This decision follows two seasons of testing the shot clock in tournaments and shootouts, which received favorable feedback from coaches.
According to Craig Anderson, Executive Director of the IHSA, the decision to implement the shot clock in all varsity contests is in response to overwhelming support from the basketball community. The two-season lead time is intended to provide schools with ample opportunity to install the shot clocks and become acquainted with them from coaching and game administration perspectives.
Alongside the approval of the shot clock, the IHSA has divulged alterations to the schedule for the boys and girls basketball state finals. While the three-day format remains intact, adjustments have been made to the third-place and semifinal times and days.
Anderson has expressed confidence in the success of the single-weekend format for the state tournament, emphasizing the positive experience it has provided for student-athletes, coaches, and fans. The new schedule is expected to further enhance the overall experience of the basketball state finals.
The revised schedule for the boys basketball state finals is as follows:
– Thursday 9:30 a.m.: Class 1A semifinals
– Thursday 2 p.m.: Class 2A semifinals
– Thursday 6 p.m.: Class 3A semifinals
– Friday 9:30 a.m.: Class 1A, 2A, 3A third place
– Friday 6 p.m.: Class 4A semifinals
– Saturday 9:30 a.m.: Class 4A third place
– Saturday 1 p.m.: Class 1A, 2A state title
– Saturday 6 p.m.: Class 3A, 4A state title
For the girls basketball state finals, the schedule has been adjusted to the following:
– Thursday 9:30 a.m.: Class 1A semifinals
– Thursday 2 p.m.: Class 2A semifinals
– Thursday 6 p.m.: Class 3A semifinals
– Friday 9:30 a.m.: Class 1A third place
– Friday 11:30 a.m.: Class 4A semifinals
– Friday 6 p.m.: Class 2A, 3A third place
– Saturday 9:30 a.m.: Class 4A third place
– Saturday 1 p.m.: Class 1A, 2A state title
– Saturday 6 p.m.: Class 3A, 4A state title
These changes signify a significant evolution for high school basketball in Illinois, and they are expected to have a positive impact on the overall game experience for both players and fans. The introduction of the shot clock and the revised state finals schedule reflect the commitment of the IHSA to enhancing the quality and competitiveness of high school basketball across the state.