7th grade boys travel basketball. Highest division, so the quality of basketball is very good. Almost all kids on all teams play some version of AAU (whether that's a good thing or not I leave for another discussion). It so happens only a handful of kids on our team play AAU (most are good 3 sport athletes). Next weekend we play a team that employs an excellent 1-3-1 half court trap. This team has played together for 2 years (AAU year round; Travel for the hoop season). They force the point guard to make a decision, and trap him on the wing. They have very good athletes running the middle and baseline, from side to side, as needed. If the ball goes to the baseline, the trap is shifted there. They are long and athletic in the middle, so can defend the post well. I watched them dismantle a pretty good team this weekend and I'm now preparing for them.
My plan of attack is to flank the point in the 1-3-1 with 2 guards. Because they don't trap immediately when we cross half court, it's a little tricky, but my plan is to try to get the ball to the middle at first, reverse to the other guard or low baseline player and stick jumpers or drive. If I cannot (my big men are not good passers), then it's up the sideline to the baseline, and before that trap is sprung, a quick pass to a cutter down the lane, with a 2nd cutter following. If the point guard can ball fake and reverse the ball to the other guard before he crosses half court, getting the defense to move, I can have that guard penetrate, have the big man drop low to a block and either drop down a pass or kick to either corner. I also have a scheme to screen the low man in the 1-3-1 to get an open jumper for the other low man, who cuts across the baseline to the strong side corner.
Other thoughts/ideas welcome.
My plan of attack is to flank the point in the 1-3-1 with 2 guards. Because they don't trap immediately when we cross half court, it's a little tricky, but my plan is to try to get the ball to the middle at first, reverse to the other guard or low baseline player and stick jumpers or drive. If I cannot (my big men are not good passers), then it's up the sideline to the baseline, and before that trap is sprung, a quick pass to a cutter down the lane, with a 2nd cutter following. If the point guard can ball fake and reverse the ball to the other guard before he crosses half court, getting the defense to move, I can have that guard penetrate, have the big man drop low to a block and either drop down a pass or kick to either corner. I also have a scheme to screen the low man in the 1-3-1 to get an open jumper for the other low man, who cuts across the baseline to the strong side corner.
Other thoughts/ideas welcome.