From news services
BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. — Running up the score is no more in Minnesota prep sports. The state high school league has approved new mercy rules for football and basketball.
The high school league board voted Tuesday that in basketball, the clock will run nonstop if a team’s lead is 35 points in the final nine minutes of a varsity game — unless a timeout is called or the margin drops to 30.
In football, the clock will run nonstop if a team’s lead is 35 points in the fourth quarter but will operate normally if the margin shrinks to 30. The rule takes effect this fall.
Also, the high school league rejected two motions designed to reduce the number of weight classes in wrestling from the current 14. Smaller schools struggling to field full teams have pushed for the change.
