I have a few favorite calls when it comes to basketball officiating.

Last week, I commented in the stands to another observer when I saw the backcourt violation. “That’s my second favorite hand signal,” I said.

Shortly after, I saw my very favorite: the shot clock violation. It is when an official pats the top of his (or her) head.

It’s just so funny to watch, but it’s also new to the high school game this year, with the addition of the shot cloc.

To fully understand why I’m so excited for this year’s high school basketball season, we have to back up to 2003, the year of my first postcollegiate job.

I was a staff photographer in the southeast Kansas town of Independence. Montgomery County has a fairly unique situation: It is home to two junior colleges.

This means I photographed a lot of basketball.

Junior college ball is fast and furious. I photographed several very talented teams. I also photographed my fair share of regional high school basketball. Some teams were more impressive than others.

Yet, the inconsistency of the shot clock bothered me.

I would see it at the juco games, but not high school competitions.

Years later, when I married my sports-loving husband, I continued to complain endlessly about this inconsistency.

Primarily, I would get impatient when one team or the other would just burn the clock. Sometimes it was for 20 or 30 seconds. But I’ve seen my share of high school games where it’s near the end of the game and the clock burning extends to a minute or more.

It’s painful, and, in my view, unnecessary. But there was no mechanism to compel student athletes or their coaches to make a decision and move the ball.

Those of us in the stands or on the sidelines had to sit and wait while the seconds ticked down.

It was painful and just frustrating to watch.

When I learned the Kansas State High School Athletic Association planned to add the shot clock to high school hoops for the 2025-26 season, I celebrated.

I understand high school athletics are learning opportunities for students. They grow teamwork and build character. The rules will not be identical to those in college or professional level athletics. I get all of that.

But the absence of the shot clock was something I had a difficult time accepting.

And now, I no longer have to. Welcome to KSHSAA, shot clock. I’m so glad you’re here.

Bonar is the editor/publisher of the I-R and can be reached at kbonar@indyrepnews. com.