Strategy- 1999 Larson’s Three in Supersectional

We were in a battle with Machesney Park Harlem in the Supersectional at NIU’s Chick Evans FH. Late in the game, we down three with the ball. We ran a play that we called, “Carthage.” It was a play that we had stolen from Carthage, who was a very good small school. 

The play started out with us having our wings screen down for our post players. The #4 popped to the wing, and #5 curled off the screen. We always went to the #4 side. 

Our players in 1999 were:

#1- Jaque Howard

#2- Michelle Flaar, Rachel Bicego

#3- Megan Pacheco

#4- Whitney Snyder, Jenny Zolper, Sarah Pacheco

#5- Sarah Larson

After entering the ball to #4, our #1 went down to screen for #5 and then for #3 coming up. #3 coming up for a three was our first option. Being under two minutes, down three, #3 for a three was our first option. 

We reversed the ball, our first look normally was wanting to get #4 cutting on the flex cut to the basket. So #4 for a layup was our second option. 

After #5 reversed the ball, #5 screened down for #2 to come up for a potential three. #2 coming up for a three was our second option. Being down three late in the game made this an option that we hoped we could get.

If #2 could not get an open shot, they dribbled hard to the wing and we looked to enter the ball to #5. When the play was called, while we hoped maybe #3 or #2 would get an open three, the plan was to get #5 on a post up. #5 was Sarah Larson, our best player and leading scorer. If we could get inside, we felt it was a pretty sure 2 or a 2 and 1. 

As it turned out, we never got to any of the four options, our #5 blew up the play before it could get to the “normal” options. When Sarah (#5) came off the double screen, normally she would catch the ball at the elbow area. When she caught it at the elbow area, she sometimes had taken a 15-17 shot during the season, but that was probably only once every 10 times- normally she just reversed the ball. In the Super-Sectional game, she did something she had never done all season. Instead of going to the elbow area, she went outside the three point arc. She caught the ball, shot the ball, and made the three. 

Before this play, Sarah Larson was 5 for 8 on threes for the season. 

This Sunday- “Streaks Scrapbook” 1999 Girls- 2nd in State.