BLOOMINGTON – The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the IHSA office in Bloomington on June 10, where the Board made decisions on two state final sites and approved the addition of the shot clock in the sport of basketball beginning in 2026-27, while also adjusting the state final schedule for America’s Original March Madness.

Basketball

The IHSA Board of Directors approved two recommendations brought forth by the IHSA Basketball advisory committee.

A 35-second shot clock will be required for usage in varsity girls’ and boys’ basketball games beginning with the 2026-27 school year. Use of the shot clock for lower-level (freshman, sophomore, junior varsity) contests will be determined by conferences and via mutual agreement by competing teams in non-conference games.

“The IHSA has allowed the shot clock to be used in tournaments and shootouts the past two seasons, and the overwhelming feedback we have received from coaches is that it is time to embrace the shot clock in all varsity contests,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “We believe the two-season lead time will provide our schools with ample opportunity to install the shot clocks and get comfortable with them from both a coaching and game administration perspective.”

Amboy girls basketball coach Mike McCracken has mixed feelings about it.

McCracken, who has been coaching basketball for over 50 years sees plenty of pros and cons as high school basketball has ran smoothly without a shot clock, but the extra technology could help the game become even smoother.

“I like the thought of playing good defense that leads to a possible hurried shot or a shot clock violation,” McCracken said. “But, I worry about the growing pains of all the schools and how good the people will do with it. We do have a good delay offense that will not be as useful.”

Boys basketball coach Tyson Powers thinks it should have happened sooner.

“I think it’s a good thing. I think it’s a long time coming in high school basketball,” Powers said. “I think we saw the writing on the wall when they changed the foul rule last year. Ultimately, I don’t know if the pace of the game will change by any means, but it will certainly eliminate those games where a team might be at a significant disadvantage on the court against another team and they just hold the basketball. We’re not going to see teams hold the ball for quarters anymore.

“It’s high school basketball and I don’t think there is a place for that type of stuff. I think this will be a good thing.”

Additionally, the committee recommended a new state final time schedule that will ensure a two-day experience for all participating teams.

“It’s been fairly unanimous in the Illinois high school basketball community that moving the state tournament to a single-weekend format has been a success,” said Anderson. “Our coaches believe this new schedule will provide an even better experience for all the student-athletes, coaches, and fans. We look forward to seeing it play out when we celebrate America’s Original March Madness next winter.”

Bass Fishing

The IHSA Bass Fishing State Finals will be contested at Lake Shelbyville in Shelbyville beginning in 2025. The host bid was prepared and supported by Shelbyville High School, the city of Shelbyville, Lake Shelbyville, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who oversee Lake Shelbyville, and several local community chambers of commerce. The five-year hosting commitment will encompass the State Finals in 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, and 2029.

The IHSA became the first high school state association in the country to hold a high school bass fishing state championship when the inaugural IHSA State Finals were held in 2009 at Lake Carlyle.

Girls’ Flag Football

Willowbrook High School in Villa Park will serve as the host of the inaugural IHSA Girls’ Flag Football State Finals in the fall of 2024. The three-year hosting contract will debut on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 18-19, and then return to Willowbrook High School for the 2025 and 2026 state finals.

In February, the IHSA announced at Halas Hall in Lake Forest that Girls Flag Football would become the 32nd sport to contest an IHSA State Series.