Special option off secondary break From Gary Barnes, former head coach, Union County High School, Blairsville, Georgia

Special Option Off Secondary Break

DIAGRAM 1: Our team usually likes to throw ahead and run a quick-hitting option out of our secondary break offense. In this initial set, 1 has cleared the ball to a designated area, while keeping the dribble alive.


Special Option Off Secondary Break

DIAGRAM 2: 4 steps over and sets an on-the-ball screen at the top of the key. 1 dribbles around the screen and looks for an opening to drive all the way to the basket as a first scoring option. As this is happening, 3 breaks down and sets a cross-screen for 5 who rolls to the opposite low block.


Special Option Off Secondary Break

DIAGRAM 3: 1 spaces the floor and looks to hit 5 in the low post. 4 breaks down hard and sets a downscreen for 3, who curls around the screen and pops to the top of the key. (Notice that the first two screens in the series were “big-to-little” screens.)


Special Option Off Secondary Break

DIAGRAM 4: If the entry pass to 5 wasn’t available, 1 then passes to 3 at the top of the key for a jump shot. 4 rolls to the low block opposite 5.


Special Option Off Secondary Break

DIAGRAM 5: If 3 didn’t have a good look for the jumper, he or she swings the ball over to 2 on the wing.

The beauty of this play is that, afterward, we can smoothly flow into our high-low motion offense, with 5 flashing to the top and 3 making a basket cut and cutting to the weak-side corner.