THE FINAL WORD: PA. NEEDS THE SHOT CLOCK; SAYRE BOYS IN PLAYOFF HUNT ... AND MUCH MORE (2022-02-10)

For the love of all that is good in the world — and I’m talking directly to PIAA officials — please institute a shot clock.

First, let me be clear, I don’t blame coaches for doing whatever they believe they need to do to win, even if its slowing down the game.

But, there is nothing worse than a team consistency taking 45 second to a minute off the clock looking for a good shot.

The lack of a shot clock effectively penalizes teams that play good defense by allowing teams to work the ball for as long as they need to, to get off a good shot.

Of course, I may be in the minority. I’ve always thought PIAA was behind the times for not having a shot clock, but it seems New York State is ahead of the curve as one of only eight states in the nation that feature a shot clock.

And to be honest, a shot clock in Pa. wouldn’t effect many games. Very few coaches these days want to run a deliberate offense, but it would speed up the game, and that would be a good thing.

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Just 10 days ago, it appeared the Sayre boys were playing out the string. Now, after a home win over CMVT, and two wins at home over Cowanesque Valley in three nights, the Redskins are in the eighth — and final — spot of the upcoming District 4, Class AA playoffs, and control their own destiny.

Coach Devin Shaw has done a nice job keeping his team’s collective chin up following an 11-game losing streak. Anyone who has been around teams mired in losing steaks knows it’s easy for a coach to lose a team.

The Redskins moved ahead of CV, with Northeast Bradford currently in 10th in the power points standings used to determine the postseason seeds.

Sayre hosts Wyalusing and North Penn-Liberty this week, then travels to Northeast Bradford Wednesday to end the regular season. The final spot in the District could be on the line in Wednesday’s game.

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The Athens boys used their length and athleticism to create easy lay-ups — and a couple of thunderous dunks by senior J.J. Babcock — in rolling to a big win over North Penn-Mansfield Wednesday night.

The Tigers actually led 11-8 late in the first quarter, but once the Wildcats clamped on the full-court pressure, they went on a 45-4 run that stretched late into the third quarter.

Athens now has Wellsboro at home Friday, then travel to Troy Saturday. I’m not sure the Wildcats can pressure either of those teams, which are much better in the backcourt, like they did the Tigers.

The Wildcats are currently third in the Class AAA seeding, and in line for a home game in the quarterfinals if they stay in the top four. The teams chasing them — Danville and Mifflinburg — have tough schedules remaining, but so do the Wildcats.

Buckle up, the last week is going to be a run ride.

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The Waverly girls rolled to a 68-32 win over Edison in the first week of the season, but needed a 14-1 fourth-quarter blitz Wednesday night to put the Lady Spartans away in their rematch.

That says more about Edison’s growth than any shortcomings for Waverly. Coach Chris Mallette, who was a standout in his own right at Edison, has done a great job with that program, and Payton LIttlefield is the real deal.

The Lady Wolverines are a dangerous team once the postseason rolls around. They shoot the 3-pointer, and create easy points in transition with their defense.

For the first time I can remember, Class B in Section IV does not have a single team in state rankings, which seems odd considering we’re just a few years removed from state titles for Seton Catholic and Susquehanna Valley, and Owego having two Division I players.

Class B is wide open. Waverly could make things interesting.

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In perhaps one of the more reprehensible moves in recent memory, Cornell University pulled out of hosting the Section IV Indoor Track & Field Championships on Wednesday — just 72 hours before it was scheduled to take place.

I, for one, wasn’t a bit surprised to hear the news. After losing out on its bid to host the state championships, Cornell did not host one Section IV event this year.

With Covid restrictions being lifted, I can’t see any rationale for such a late decision. Hopefully, Section IV has a back-up plan.