Coffee County Central basketball plans to start using shot clocks this winter in certain games as allowed by the TSSAA.
Lady Raider head coach Joe Pat Cope joined The Thunder Radio Coffee Coaches Show Saturday, June 13th and said Coffee County plans to start using them for certain games in November and December, 2026.
“Me and (boys coach) Andrew (Taylor) talked about it the afternoon we found out it was passed and we have been on a text threat with (principal Paul) Parsley and we want to start now,” explained Cope. We hope to have them in for our hall of fame games and our Christmas tournament this year.”
The TSSAA last week voted to approve the use of the 35 second shot clock beginning this year for hall of fame (or hall of champions) games and any holiday tournaments, although use is optional.
The new rule will become mandatory for all TSSAA basketball games starting with the 2029-2030 season.
Cope was unsure of logistics in terms of who will operate shot clocks in the long run, but believes the teams and/or school will be responsible for now.
“I think it will (be the school’s responsibility) until it becomes official,” said Cope. “but once it starts, I’m thinking they are going to get some of the older officials in the gym and have them run it. And I think that would be great.”
One area of uncertainty that needs to be addressed will be possible installation of shot clocks at alternate sights, such as middle schools. CHS uses other gyms such as Coffee Middle for some of its tournament games.
Coffee County basketball tips off the 2026-2027 season in November.
