Paul Westhead's Loyola Maramount Fast Break and Transition Offense System

Does this numbered break remain consistant on makes and misses? Does it matter what side the ball is rebounded on?

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No, you can run this break off of a make or a miss. I coach JV boys and our whole program runs it, we get a ton of layups if you can get your big to sprint the floor, also great if you have a stretch four man who can hit the walk up three or attack from the top. You can also add sets out of this like a flex, lop, or double staggered for a shooter. Great and easy break, teach your point guard to look weak side as it is usually open, even at the high school level.

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I find it a great way to spread the floor and what I do as well from the Loyola break is to interchange players to different positions.. I have shooters and pretty much the same size kids so I go on first come, first served to corners, top of key etc.. defense can''''t find my leading scorer in just one postion.. kids love sprinting down to get to a favorite spot thus beating the defense down the floor!

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My son is the fastest guy in AAU. He is a center and the rule is never pass to a center if he doesnt get the rebound.
He will in the block long before the other players and ready for a pass or a shot

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JJ Guidry says: 6/27/2016 at 9:01:35 AM The key to Coach Westhead's fast break is the post never cuts to the block until the 2 catches. It's not hard to defend a post on the block. However, it is extremely difficult to defend a post cutting to the block in transition. We have utilized this fast break for more than a decade and it's extremely effective. Like     login   register

My son is the fastest guy in AAU. He is a center and the rule is never pass to a center if he doesnt get the rebound.
He will in the block long before the other players and ready for a pass or a shot

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Most coaches don't want to pass the ball to their centers running the floor..... not all are like this but they are afraid that they don't have very good handles.

Let them get to the block and get them the ball there .... or im my mind, at least from the free throw line in. JMO

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We break a lot but the key I have found is that if you use a PG run break you will miss a lot of opportunities because unless the PG is in the perfect outlet position on the rebound it takes a second or two for him to get to that position get the pass and head up the court and you lose valuable time that gives the other team time to get back on defense. We have the rebounder outlet to whoever is on the wing and with essentially 4 guards they are all capable of handling the ball. Whichever player(s) are up top leak out on the rebound rather than on the outlet (they don't quite cherrypick and have to stay home until we secure the rebound) and the outlet receiver tosses the ball up the wing or cross court and we either get the finish on that pass or one pass later. We haven't perfected it but still manage to get a lot of points this way even against teams that are faster than us.

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Love the Westhead system; however, I have found two defenses that have caused it trouble:

1- A zone press

2- A halfcourt trap (ex: 2-2-1)

Any ideas to counter these?

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Coach H if you bring your 5 to the top of the key first it will eliminate the zone press and the half court trap.

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Good Stuff, as long as your players can make the shot they are taking at least 10 out of 13 times. The players need to chart there shooting during practice all over the court, to see where they can make shot's and where they can't make the shot. They should have to make 10 out of 13 at any given spot on the floor at practice, to be able to shot that same shot in a game.

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Dave -

10 out of 13?? 77%? I don't think any pro can give you those numbers on a regular basis.

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How does a pass get from 2 in the right corner to 4 at the left elbow? That pass gets stolen every time!

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Coach Lewis says: 2/9/2018 at 2:04:01 PM 2 does not hit 4 at the left elbow, she hits the 4 as she dives to the strong side block. If the 4 is fronted and 3's defender is low, the 2 may be able to skip it hard to the 5 at the top of key or lane line extended at the three point line (assuming 5's defender is playing back side help on the fronted 4). On that pass, 4 as an easy flash in the paint since her defender is sealed. It's a tough pass for girls to make (especially JV), but guys can get it there quick enough to get through. Like     login   register

I like the Carolina break but what are you thoughts on the guards getting to the block and in front of the ball instead of the 5. In H.S. girls basketball the 5 isn’t the one always in front of the ball. Thank you for your feedback.

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On a made basket who do you have throw the ball in? I am assuming 4 but just making sure

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B says: 4/6/2022 at 8:26:13 PM Jeff-yes, the 4 throws the ball in. Ideally, he's grabbing the ball out of the net before it hits the ground, stepping OB quickly and getting it into the 1 who should be making a banana peel style run up the floor. Like     login   register

TheTeachh says: 4/3/2023 at 9:03:03 AM 5 is the inbounder, because she is the trailer and 4 should be parallel with 1 on the pass. That way if the D jumps the 1, the sequence should be 5-4-1 as 1 cuts towards midcourt to receive 5's pass. Like     login   register

I ran the Westhead when I was in HS, and I run it now with a high school team.

The key is your 1 and 4 bring it up in the backcourt, 5 gets in the middle of the 2-2-1. Quick pass to middle, turn and kick to 2 or 3 in the corner. Has to be quick passes. Always have your 4 be a competent ball handler and passer.

Same for the zone press. Quick pass to middle, which gets the second layer of the press to jump to him. Quick pass back to 1 or 4, then up the line to the 2 or 3. Repetition is the key: drill, drill, drill.

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In the issue of passing to the center (4 or 5-coaches choice to be the cutter to the block, I use the number 4 for cutter) is actually a good thing. Your center is parallel to the pg on the outlet running the floor. I encourage this 1-4 pass because it creates opportunities for him to pass to 3 on the left wing or 2 on the right wing and look for a give and go pass back on his cut or post up finish to the block. This 1-4 pass I call "1-4 high". This action requires no more than 2-3 push dribbles up the floor. It's icing on the cake if your center has ball-handling ability.

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Hey Chris,
Ran "system" for 30 years and always had my 5 take the ball out and my 4 was my post/point type of player. Vs any pressure 5 takes it out of the rim and either hits 1 or 4 immediately.....for reference sake 1 & 4 posted up at the elbow (from 5''s view out of bounds looking downcourt to inbound)....1 on the right elbow and 4 on the left elbow.....1 would break out to above FT line extended with their left hand extended towards sideline for a hand target and 4 would stay posted up at the left elbow....rule for all 3:
If 1 got the outlet 4 automatically "cuts gut" and 5 replaces 4 ''s original availability on the left side staying even with 1 parallel ..if 4 got the inbound 1 "cuts gut" and 5 would replace 1 on the right side.... ballhandler looks sideline or gut ....if gut pass then gut looks to kick out to 2 or 3 on the wings-NOT on the corners....then wings look to attack with the 2 on 1 situation...4 continues up the middle after this pass and 1-5 finish to their spotups....5 will always be open for a wide open look at the left elbow extended......

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