This post was contributed to the FastModel Sports Basketball Plays and Drills Library by Randy Sherman of Radius Athletics.
Zone concepts demonstrated by the Oregon Ducks (NCAAW) from 3-Out/2-In hi-lo alignment.
There is also a short YouTube video at the bottom of this post to further illustrate the concepts.
Zone defenses are designed to clog driving lanes and protect the paint, but they also come with built-in gaps that a well-organized offense can exploit possession after possession.
The key isn’t just running a set play against the zone — it’s understanding the reads that let your team consistently attack the soft spots defenders can’t cover. In this post, we’ll break down zone attack concepts straight from the Oregon Ducks’ 3-Out/2-In hi-lo alignment, a set that puts constant pressure on the defense to make tough choices.
From high-post entries and hi-lo action to skip passes and misdirection, these concepts show how ball and player movement can pull a zone out of shape and create clean looks. A short video breakdown is included at the end of the post to help you see these reads in action before installing them with your own team.
Wing enters to High Post.
If no shot is available look Hi-Lo to the player behind the zone.
Wing enters to High Post.
If no shot is available look Hi-Lo to the player behind the zone.
If no hi-lo is available, look to fan it to the weak side.
Attacking a gap in the zone draws in two players and creates a 3 point shot for wing.
The pass from wing to point moves the defense. The zone anticipates the offense will fully reverse.
Throw a misdirection pass against the grain.
4 pins X2 and 3 skips to 1. This creates an advantage for shot/drive.
