Most of Rockford area ready for Illinois high school basketball shot clock era

It's almost here. And it's coming fast. As the 2026 IHSA state playoffs tip off, this will be the last Illinois high school basketball postseason in which one of the sport's more controversial tactics ― stalling, in all its forms ― will be allowed. The IHSA has approved a 35-second shot clock for both boys and girls games, starting with the 2026-27 season. It brings Illinois into line with 31 other states, and does away with one of the oldest forms of slowing the game down. The shot clock era will tip off in Illinois high school basketball in November, and for today's players and coaches from the Rockford area, it can't get here soon enough. "Bring it on," Byron forward Cason Newton said....