Two major changes could be on the horizon for athletic facilities at Kewanee High School.
One of them — a shot clock for boys and girls basketball — will definitely happen, as it has been approved by the Illinois High School Association.
The other — creating a new home softball field for high school girls — is just a possibility at this time, but is being seriously considered by school officials.
At Monday’s Kewanee School Board meeting, KHS Athletic Director Tim Atwell reported that a 35-second shot clock will be implemented starting with the 2026-27 school year.
The shot clock will create some challenges for the schools, and particularly for their athletic directors, Atwell said.
There will be the expense of installing the clocks behind each basket where players can see them.
And a shot clock operator will have to be added the crew at the scorer’s table. Running the shot clock can be a challenge, Atwell said, and operators will have to be trained for the job.
Atwell said it’s enough of a challenge to find people to keep the scorebook, run the scoreboard and reset the possession arrow for basketball games. Adding a shot clock operator will make things more complicated, he said.
Atwell said he plans to retire after a couple more years, and he’s glad he won’t have to deal with the shot clock issue.
After the meeting, he said he feels the shot clock will be good for the game of basketball, even with all the extra effort that will be required from school officials.
Supt. Dr. Chris Sullens reported on the possibility of creating a new softball diamond on the soccer practice field across Third Street from the high school.
For years KHS has played its home softball games on one of the “pool diamonds” at the east end of Northeast Park. But Sullens said those diamonds have some problems.
For one thing, he said, people park in the outfield, which can interfere with games. And the baselines are close to the park road, so vehicles and spectators can get very close to the action.
Spectators can use park restrooms, Sullens said, but they’re not always open in the spring when softball is played.
Since soccer is a fall sport and softball is a spring sport, there wouldn’t be any conflicts with both sports using the same field.
Sullens said a report on the softball situation will be made at the board’s July meeting.
In another athletic matter, the board approved implementing a golf program at Central Junior High.
The co-ed golf team would only play three or four matches during the season, Sullens said, and would be eligible for the Illinois Elementary School Association state championship series.
