{"id":205733,"date":"2026-05-11T22:28:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T03:28:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/?p=205733"},"modified":"2026-05-11T22:28:06","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T03:28:06","slug":"random-thoughts-champs-again-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2026\/05\/11\/random-thoughts-champs-again-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Random Thoughts: champs again, more"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SCOTT TRUXELL\/<\/strong>independent sports<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring sports<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It hardly seems possible, but the 2026 high school spring sports season is starting to wind down. It\u2019s easily the most compact sports season when compared to fall and winter sports, but I suppose that has to be that way. Starting it earlier means even more battles against the weather and running at least the regular season longer after graduation would pose another set of problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conference champs again<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lincolnview has already clinched at least a share of the NWC baseball championship and can win it outright with a victory over Columbus Grove on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the sixth straight championship for the Lancers, whose record in NWC games during that span is 51-2. If you go back even further, from the 2018 season to the present, Lincolnview\u2019s NWC record is 66-3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lincolnview\u2019s softball program is enjoying a nice run as well. The Lancers haven\u2019t lost a conference game since the 2023 season and have won three straight NWC championships. In addition, Lincolnview has won at least a share of five of the last six NWC softball championships. Going back to the 2021 season, the Lancers are 45-3 in NWC play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best of luck to both teams in their respective tournaments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shot clock<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Indiana High School Athletic Association has rejected a shot clock proposal, which in some ways surprises me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now there\u2019s word that it may not be a sure thing in Ohio. OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute has been quoted as saying the organization is \u201cnot ready\u201d to approve a shot clock. That\u2019s very surprising to me. Honestly, I thought once the proposal was submitted by the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association it would be more or less a formality that it was approved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you read this column with any regularity, you know I\u2019m not a fan of a shot clock at the high school level. Why not? None of the arguments for it make sense to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019ll make the game better? How exactly? If anything, it could widen the gap between truly good teams and average and struggling teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019ll eliminate stall ball? Unless you\u2019re of a certain age, I doubt you\u2019ve seen true stall ball. In 36 years of covering high school basketball, I\u2019ve seen actual stall ball in a game twice, back in the early to mid-90s. I\u2019m not talking about trying to milk the final two minutes off the clock while holding a one point lead. That\u2019s strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

It\u2019ll prepare kids for the next level? Literally three percent of all high school basketball players go on to play at any level collegiately \u2013 NCAA I, III or III or NAIA. That\u2019s not a valid argument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having said all of that, I do realize it\u2019s coming at some point and I do realize that the majority of possessions don\u2019t last more than 35 seconds, which is what was proposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I\u2019m no longer dead set against it, I just don\u2019t think it\u2019s necessary. Apparently the decision makers at the OHSAA may think the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NCAA expansion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So the NCAA has made it official \u2013 the NCAA basketball tournament will expand to 76 teams. When does it end?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s look back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n