A shot clock sits above the backboard at Douglas High School. Shot clocks will be new to Nevada this season and can be used in all non-league games.
Photo by Carter Eckl.
Welcome to the shot clock era, Nevada.
This winter, shot clocks will be feature on the backboards of most Nevada schools, but the rule change is still in its trial stage.
A 35-second shot clock can be operated and enforced in any non-league contests and non-postseason games.
In other words, if you’re looking to see how the shot clock will impact games, you’d better be in the gym early in the season.
Shot clocks will be required in varsity level games, starting next season (2025-26) and will be used in league contests and the postseason.
FAMILIAR ALIGNMENT
Realignment hasn’t changed the landscape of the basketball in the region.
Northern Nevada will compete at the Class 4A level as Class 5A is a Southern-only classification for hoops.
For both boys and girls, Class 4A North will be the same nine teams the area has become accustomed to — Carson, Douglas, Bishop Manogue, Damonte Ranch, Galena, McQueen, Reed, Reno and Spanish Springs.
The 4A South will be comprised of 22 teams, competing in three different leagues (Desert, Mountain, and Sky)
In Class 3A, Dayton will compete in the 3A North (East) alongside Fallon, Elko, Fernley, Lowry and Spring Creek. Hug, North Valleys, South Tahoe, Sparks, Truckee and Wooster will be in the opposing 3A North (West) league.
Sierra Lutheran is one of 10 teams in the 2A North this winter, also featuring Battle Mountain, Coral Academy, Incline, North Tahoe, Oasis Academy, Pershing County, Silver Stage, West Wendover and Yerington.
WRESTLING RULE CHANGES
Across the nation, wrestling will have expansive rule changes this winter.
The NFHS announced in late April that the high school wrestling rules were getting a shake-up.
Takedowns will be worth three points this season, getting a bump up from two points.
Nearfalls will be awarded points based on time, making a two-second nearfall worth two points, a three-second nearfall worth three points, and so on.
Individual match scoring changes will have a direct effect on team scoring this season, too.
Another change coming to the mat is wrestlers will only need one point of contact inside of the circle. In previous years, athletes were tasked with keeping two points of contact in the circle at all times.
As far as alignment is concerned, there are no changes from last fall.
The 5A North will still feature the usual nine suspects between Carson, Douglas, Damonte Ranch, Bishop Manogue, Galena, McQueen, Reed, Reno and Spanish Springs.
The 5A South is a 12-team league this fall.