A five-high continuity with a high five ending!

A simple but structured half-court offense that will break down almost any man defense

De La Salle High School's highly structured half-court "5-High" continuity offense, with its constant screening and constant motion, has enabled us to hold our own against a lot of basically superior opponents.

Our primary 5-High set pulls our opponents away from the basket and forces them to work harder against us.

As shown in Diag. 1, we set up with our wings at either end of the free-throw line extended, our center in the low post, a high post at the elbow of the lane, and a point guard up at the top.

The high post, point guard, and a wing form the strong side, and the low post and the other wing the weak side.

In setting up this offense, we spot up our better shooters in the areas that will best enable them to exploit their strength.

The 5-High continuity is triggered by point guard (#1) entry pass to wing (#2), who V-cuts to meet the ball. If the wing is being overplayed, we expect him to go one-on-one against his man - drive to the baseline.

If the opening isn't there for the wing, the point guard (#1) will cut for the hoop over the back-screen set by high-post (#4). Note: The point guard is expected to occupy his man to prevent him from spotting the back-screen.

The wing's (#2) first look is for the cutter (#1). If #1 cannot shake loose, the wing will wait for him to establish a post position down low, then hit him.

If neither pass is there, #2 will look for the high post, who has opened to the ball side after #1 has cut by him (Diag. 2) - a good move against a post defender who has sagged back to help out on the cutter.

The high post (#4), after getting the ball from #2, should have the nice 12- to 15-foot jumper.

Two other very effective options are also shown in Diag. 2: the "duck-in" move by low-post (#5), and the quick curl by #1 over the down-screen set by #2.

If the defenders choose to switch on the screen, #2 should have no trouble rolling to the hoop.

Ball-handler #4 can hit either #1 or #5. If this inside pass is not there, #4 can reverse the ball to wing #3, who has rotated up to the top of the key as #2 cut through the lane to the wing position at the foul-lane extended. (Diag. 3)

#3 can then reverse the ball to #2.

Now, if #5 will move across the lane to the opposite low post and #4 will move across to the opposite elbow, the offense will have realigned itself on the opposite (left) side (Diag. 4).

The strong side will now be composed of #2 (wing), #4 (elbow), and #3 (point), and the weak side will be made up of #5 (low post) and #1 (wing).

#3 can now trigger the offense by passing to #2 and then cutting off a screen by post-man #4. The continuity may then be continued as before, but this time on the left side of the floor.

The offense can also be launched from a double high post or a four-across set, enabling the point man to choose the side he wishes to attack.

We believe that the strength of this offense lies in its continuity, and that if we remain patient the high-percentage shots will come.

The combination of good screening and constant motion allows us to break down almost every defense we encounter.