High/Low Zone Offense

High/Low Zone Offense

What to Discover or Recall . . .

The "High'/Low" zone offense can be used very effectively on all levels of the game.
It compliments the three player High/Low passing game predominately used in the Big 10 conference.
It combines an outside three player passing attack with a potent inside high/low rotation.
The "High/Low" zone offense can readily be initiated out of almost any alignment or entry.

The High/Low's continuity is relatively simple and easy to learn. However, don't let this fool you, the constant movement of the two interior players creates serious matchup problems for any zone, especially matchup zones. When the zone defense does collapse in order to protect the middle, it creates wide open outside shots for spot up shooters. Like most good zone offenses, the High/Low zone offense also incorporates a quick hitting weakside attack that forces zones to defend the entire court sideline to sideline. Ball movement with sharp accurate passing is another key ingredient to its success.

Offensive Fundamentals Required

Learn More Attacking Zone Defense Principles

Learn More Zone Offense - Reads & Counters

Learn More  Improving Shooting Skills

Learn More  Raising the Level of Passing

Learn More Offensive Rebounding Techniques

 


5 Stars

Basic Continuity

 

| Continuity | Post Roll | Post Flash | Entries | Specials |

Continuity Continuity

Point O1 passes an entry pass to wing O2 and goes opposite. O2 looks to feed O5 rolling to basket, posting up or stepping out to short corner.

If unable to feed O5 on basket cut, O2 looks to pass to O4 flashing into the middle to side post position.

Continuity Continuity

When O4 does not receive the ball on flash to middle or on the side post, O4 steps out to initiate ball reversal and weakside attack.

Ball Reversal: O2 passes to O4 who passes to O1 and cuts to basket. Point O1 passes passes to wing O3 and goes opposite. O3 looks to feed O4 rolling to basket, posting up or stepping out to short corner.

Continuity Continuity

If unable to feed O4 on basket cut, O3 looks to pass to O5 flashing high into the middle.

When O5 does not receive the ball on flash to middle or on the side post, O5 steps out to initiate ball reversal continuity.

 


5 Stars

Post Roll Options

Continuity Continuity

Wing looks to feed the high post rolling to basket or posting up in a mismatch against a smaller or weak defender.

O5 then steps out to short corner. When O5 receives a pass in the short corner, O5 has option of shooting the ball, feeding O4 on high post basket cut or making a skip pass out to weakside spot up shooters.

Post Roll Post Roll

If/when O5 makes a skip pass to O1 on weakside, O1 looks to shoot or pass to O3 spotting up. Shooter O3 has options of shooting, feeding O4 in low post area, or passing to O5 flashing into the middle.
Note: If O2 does not pass to short corner, high post O4 steps out initiating weakside ball reversal action.

If/when short corner O5 passes back to wing O2, O2 makes a reversal pass out to O1. O4 continues basket roll to short corner creating a temporary three out two in alignment. Continuity continues according to O1's next pass.

Post Roll Post Roll

When O1 passes to wing O3 (or when wing O2 makes a direct skip pass across to O3), O5 flashes to middle. O5 has options of shooting, passing to O4 on baseline cut, or making a kick out pass to either O1, O2 or O3.

If point O1 makes a return pass back to wing O2, O4 flashes to middle initiating the high low action.

 


5 Stars

High Post Flash Options

Post Flash Post Flash

When defender X5 guards O5 roll to the basket, it opens up O4's weakside flash into the middle.

If O2 passes to O4 in high post area initiates high/low action. O4 looks for shot or to pass to O5 on baseline cut.

Post Flash

If defender X3 stays with O5 baseline cut, O4 looks to make a kick out pass to O1, O2 or O3 spotting up for outside shots.

Line of Sight

 

 


5 Stars

Various Entries

In addition to the basic point wing entry pass, various alignments and sets can be use to initiate the High/Low zone offense continuity. Here are a couple of the most used:

| Dribble Clear | Slice | Mid Screen | Horns |

"Dribble Clear"

Dribble Clear

The Dribble Clear entry is imitated by point O1 dribbling to wing. Wing O2 back cuts to the basket looking for pass from O1.

Dribble Clear

Dribble Clear

O5 then rolls to basket and, if open, receives a pass from O1. If/when O5 does not receive a pass, O5 steps out to short corner. O2 continues out to weakside.

O4 flashes into the middle setting up high/low action. If O4 does not receive ball on flash, O4 then steps out initiating ball reversal and high/low continuity.


"1-4 Slice"

Slice

Out of the 1-4 high set, O1 passes looks to pass to either O4 or O5. If O1 passes to O5,O4 makes a slice cut to the basket anticipating a pass from O5. O1 goes opposite the pass to the weakside wing.

Slice

Slice

O5 makes a reversal pass to O3 and cuts to the basket. O3 looks to feed o5 or pass to O1 shot or post feed.

When O5 does not receive a pass, o5 steps out to short corner, and O4 flashes into the middle for shot or high/low action. If O4 does not receive the ball on flash cut, O4 steps out for a ball reversal pass initiating the high/low continuity.


"Mid Screen"

Mid Screen

O5 initiates the Mid Screen entry by setting an "On Ball" screen on defender X1. Point O1 drives off O5's screen. If open O1 can drive hard to the basket. If defender X4 steps up to help out on O1's drive, O1 makes a drop pass to open O4. When defender X3 sags off to help out against O1's dribble penetration, O1 makes a kick out pass to shooter O2 spotting up.

Mid Screen Mid Screen

When defenderX5 steps out (shows) or switches on mid screen, O1 looks to feed O5 rolling to basket. O1 also has option of passing to O2 for a better passing angle into O5.

If O5 does not receive a pass, O5 steps out to short corner and O4 flashes into the middle. The high/low continuity is continued by O4 stepping out for a reversal pass from O1.


"Horns"

Horns

In the horns alignment,wings O2 and O3 spot up in corners while O4 and O5 assume high post screening positions at the elbows. Point O1 has option of driving off either O4's or O5's screen.

Horns Horns

If defender X5 steps out (shows) or switches on O1's dribble penetration, O1 looks to feed O5 rolling to the basket. O4 steps out.

If/when O1 makes a reversal pass to O4 stepping out, it initiates the high/low continuity. O4 passes to O3 and cuts to basket and O5 flashes into the middle.


5 Stars

High/Low Zone Situations & Specials

To avoid rush shots as the shot clock or game clock runs down, the High Low Zone Offense can quickly flow into quick hitting set plays. These set plays can also be ran following a time out. Here are a couple of examples:

| Pin Down | Weakside Double | Vegas |

"Pin Down" (Down Screens)

Pin Down Pin Down

Pin Down is initiated out of a 1-4 high set. Point O1 makes an entry pass to wing O2. O2 dribbles toward the baseline.

O2 then makes a return pass to O1. O4 and O5 set down screens for O3 and O2. O1 looks to feed either O2 or O3 coming off the down screens.

Pin Down

If/when defender X4 goes over O4's down screen and closes out on shooter O3, point O1 looks to pass to O4 under the basket. O4 and O5 can also post up after setting the down screens.


"Weakside Double"

Double

Double

The Weakside Double begins with point O1 dribble clearing wing O2. If O2 is open on the back cut, O1 passes O2 the ball for a layup shot. O4 and O3 set a double screen on weakside.

O1 makes a reversal pass out to high post O5 stepping out. O5 looks to pass to shooter O2 coming off the screen. The double screen in broken by O3 flashing into the middle and O4 looking for an over the top lob pass.

Double

If/when defender X3 steps up to defend O3's flash cut, O3 looks to make a kick out pass to O1 spotting up in corner.


"Vegas"

Vegas

Vegas

The Vegas special is initiated with point O1 passing to wing O2. High Post O5 rolls to basket. If open O2 passes the ball to O5.

O3 and O4 set a high double screen on defender X2. Wing O2 looks to make a cross court, skip pass to O1 fading off O3's and O4's double screen.

Vegas

If defender X4 steps out to challenge O1's shot, O1 looks to feed O4 rolling to basket. When defender X2 goes over the double screen, O1 looks to pass to shooter O3 popping out.

 

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