Isolate your best player with a 4-around-1 power set.

Coaches with a star player they'd like to isolate are invited to check the 4-Around-1 Power Set used by Monacan H.S. As you can see in the diagrams, it is an inside attack that enables a team to take advantage of favorable match-ups and get into the bonus quickly.

As shown in Diag. 1, the formation takes the shape of a box with the "Power" man (5) inside and the four other players spread on the perimeter.

The "Power" player sets up well above the block and simply follows the ball as it is moved on the perimeter. The four perimeter players exchange, screen, and otherwise keep their defensive men occupied, preventing them from providing help in the post.

Any good post-up player should be able to get open inside and score or get fouled. Whenever the opponent is playing more of a help defense, it is essential to remove the backside help. If, for example, the ball goes to the corner, the offensive men on the opposite side must interchange to prevent their men from helping inside.

Check Diag. 2. Notice how the help (X2 and X4) is removed momentarily and the postman (#5) is isolated. He is then in position to get the feed from the corner. If the postman (#5) is being fronted, as shown, he may be available for a lob pass from the corner man (#3).

If there is a defensive switch on the backside, the player moving toward the corner (#2) can flash to the high post for the pass from #3, as shown in Diag. 3.

Remember, the offensive players on the perimeter must be active to keep their defenders occupied. Note: Busy defenders are less likely to provide help.

Sometimes we have two or three players good enough to play the "Power" (#5)position. We can designate the "Power" man we want in the middle by calling "Brad Power" or "Mike Power."

There are no specific entries into "Power." The players on the perimeter are free to screen, interchange, cross, or shallow-cut, but they must be well away from the post-up man.

If the post-up man gets the ball and chooses not to make a move, we expect him to look opposite, kick the ball out to a player on the perimeter, follow his pass, and look for the return, as shown in Diag. 4.