Endowment purchases shot clock for Columbia Falls
Columbia Falls will see new scoreboards that will have shot clocks next season, thanks to the Wildcat Athletic Endowment Fund.
Hungry Horse News
Columbia Falls High School will be prepared for the 35-second shot clock next basketball season, thanks to the Wildcat Athletic Endowment Association.
The Association has agreed to spend more than $30,000 on new scoreboards for the gym that have the shot clock and other accessories.
The school will have to pay for installation, something it may be able to do in-house.
The addition of the shot clock was recently required by the Montana High School Association.
Coaches Cary Finberg and Chris Finberg said the addition of the clock wouldn’t have too much impact on the way Columbia Falls plays basketball.
In most games, players are taking a shot before 35 seconds anyway, they noted.
Chris Finberg said the clock could be more problematic for Class C, since the small schools have limited staff to run the clock to begin with.
Cary Finberg said his main concern wasn’t with how the game is played, but the adjustment by referees and timekeepers to make sure things are running correctly.
The shot clock typically comes into play late in games, when teams try to stall to hold a lead.
The endowment association has become a key part of supporting Columbia Falls sports over the years, funding a host of expenses beyond what the school typically pays for.