Article on a key to Sikeston's success
- Thread starter Bucket Lover
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Great article... Writer Derek James does an outstanding job for the newspaper. Not many papers today devote that much time or space for high school basketball... Woof-Woof...C =}~
*D, i'll collect at the final-4..
This is a great article. It really spells out the reasons for the Dogs going to a matchup zone and the success that has been garnered from that transition. The Dogs....despite their success...seem to have the "experts" suggesting that a man to man defense is better. Well, I believe that the opposite is true and the facts suggest otherwise as well.
There is little doubt concerning the effectiveness of a good well taugh " Match Up Zone Defense ". Sikeston was undefeated and won a class 4 state championship back in 2010-2011. This appears to be the " Trademark of Sikeston " basketball. Yes indeed the ' Match Up Zone Defense has been rewarding to the Bulldogs.
Most of my coaching friends are " All in on a man to man defense with zones and trick defenses sometimes used when they are outmanned or for a change of pace. Both zone and Man to Man defenses are most effective when the team concept is used. A zone defense is most effective when the score is positive in the zone's favor. High school teams want their best players and their # 1 defense on the floor when the game is on the line in the closing minutes of the game. Situations could arise if the score is negative in the zones favor and the opponent pulls the ball out and forces a " Man- Man defense " which is your # 2 defense.
Sikeston has lost one game this season and that was @ Cape Central. It appears the game plan for Central coach Drew Church was to get the lead and force Sikeston out of their match up zone defense into their # 2 defense which is a " Man to Man ".
I can remember reading the write in comments on " semo.com " concerning the man to man defenses vs zone defenses. The Sikeston Bulldogs have maintained a lead in the last 4 minutes of the 4th quarter in all of their games to date except one and that was to Cape Central.
I hope other posters and coaches will added to the discussion on a high schools team's # 1 defense. Is it a Zone or Man to man or does the personnel influence the above?
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I personally believe that the most important ingredient in a successful defense is getting your players to buy into what you are doing. If they believe it works and will work hard doing what needs to be done then you can have success with both. I personally like a good Man - Man but also switch it up on occasions. I also agree with your statement about playing your number 1 defense at the end of the game which is not always possible with a zone if you are down.
It would be interesting to know how many high school teams have won a state championship with their # 1 defense being a zone ( In all five classes ). This post is for discussion proposes only and not trying to put down zone and trick defenses.
Sikeston's zone is predicated on ball pressure...I even think the article said that. So, from that standpoint, it is similar to man to man. As Bill Raffety says "It's a zone with man-to-man principles." If a team slows down the pace and backs the ball out, this defense can adjust and pressure the ball.
I'm not suggesting that a matchup zone is the best defense. I'm suggesting that Sikeston has taken it and "made it their own." It has led to more success than man-to-man when looking at wins and losses. I believe that the change to the matchup zone has been a large factor in the Bulldogs becoming a great program.
I'm not suggesting that a matchup zone is the best defense. I'm suggesting that Sikeston has taken it and "made it their own." It has led to more success than man-to-man when looking at wins and losses. I believe that the change to the matchup zone has been a large factor in the Bulldogs becoming a great program.
Metro, Scott Central has won 18 state championships running the zone press and halfcourt zone defense. Borgia has run matchup zone forever and won several state titles. I remember MICDS beat NMCC in 2002 using a 2-3 zone, although I'm not sure if that was their No. 1 defense or not. That's just a few off the top of my head.
Actually Sikeston doesn't used a man-man defense in probably 3 years. There have been many times they have gotten behind and made big comebacks with its zone. Normandy and Liberty North in the state semifinals and 3rd place game in 2013 comes to mind. Down 14 to Normandy in the 3rd and 4th quarter and forced overtime only to lose at the buzzer. Imagine Prep in 2012, down 14 in the 4th only to rally and have a shot to win it.
The Cape Central game, actually Sikeston led the whole game and Cape came back in the third quarter, but Sikeston did not come out of the zone.
I personally don't think a zone is superior to man and I don't think man is superior to zone. It is whatever is the perfect fit for YOUR team. And it is quite obvious that zone is the perfect fit for Sikeston.
Any defense depends a great deal on your personnel. If you don't have a lot of quickness it's going to be difficult to pressure the ball all over the court, especially against quicker teams. Sikeston has had a lot of quickness for several years. They can get after the ball as well as anyone. They wouldn't be as successful doing that if they weren't so quick.
Well said, Rocket. another advantage using the Match Up Zone is very few teams use the zone as their primary defense therefore teams must make special preparation. The disadvantage is playing away from the zone's strength when a spread offense is used. The offense goes into a spread, the zone defense adjust and moves out to combat the spread. Both the offense and zone defense has moved away from their strength. I've gotta ask, who has gained the advantage since the offense and defense has moved away from their strength? I believe the offense has gained the advantage because the ball is in the hands of the ball handlers, the best free throw shooters, ahead in the score and the clock ticking. I can not name a coach with high expectations who would want to be in this defensive situation while facing elimination.
Rocket, Cape Notre Dame won a class 4 state championship back in 2008. Notre Dame used one of the best match up zone I've ever seen to defeat the St. Charles Pirates. I believe the coach was Paul Mc Hale who was one of the best coaches ever.
Rocket, I do not know of any top team in St. Louis who play a zone as their # 1 quarter court defense. We do however have St. Louis area schools playing zone pressure defenses ( full, three quarter and half court ) but drop back in to a man as the primary defense.
I enjoy attending games where the outcomes are in doubt and the coaches make adjustments trying to gain the advantage. Having said that, the team with the most talent usually wins.
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