The first-grade Hot Hoops used superior passing skills to beat Team 14, 34-14, Saturday at the East Lawrence Recreation Center.

The Hot Hoops passed the ball as many as 10 times on a single possession several times during the game. Hot Hoops coach Greg Easter said passing is a point of emphasis for the team.

“In practice we make the guys pass three or four times before they ever shoot,” Easter said. “We reward passes more than we reward shots just because we want to get them passing. And I think it’s really paid off.”

The Hot Hoops didn’t just use several passes to win the ballgame. They used the passing to open up lanes to the basket and then drive to score points.

Hot Hoops guard Austin Gaumer played good defense to open up the court. His quick hands on defense allowed him to dribble the entire length of the floor to finish on the break. Gaumer played well in every aspect of the game by keeping his arms up on both defense and offense to help him pull down rebounds.

Guard Will McKee used his body to his advantage. McKee’s lengthy arms helped him grab boards and go coast-to-coast to finish.

Easter said he was happy with the Hot Hoops’ persistent play on defense and their ability to locate an open teammate.

“We had a lot of good fast breaks, and the kids were aggressive on the ball,” Easter said. “They did a good job passing and finding their teammates and not being selfish today, which at the first-grade level they tend to get a little selfish. But today they were sharing the ball really well.”

Easter said Team 14 showed resiliency by not giving up during the second half.

“We had a really good first half, and the other team really got better in the second half so it was a much more competitive second half,” he said.

Team 14 played well during the second half because of the small things that make a difference.

Guard Thomas Taber constantly moved on the offensive side of the court to get open. When Taber did get the ball, he looked for the pass instead of the shot.

Team 14 point guard Thomas Taber loads up for a chest pass to one of his teammates while playing the Hot Hoops Saturday at the East Lawrence Center.

Guard Braden Solko complemented Taber by showing hustle on both sides of the ball. Solko was the fastest player on the floor, and he didn’t see a fast-break opportunity all afternoon that he didn’t like. He hustled just as hard on defense as he did on offense by diving to the deck for loose balls.

Team 14’s hustle proved to be no match for the passing ability of the Hot Hoops, but Easter said the teamwork wasn’t a fluke.

“These guys have played together at soccer so they’re really starting to know each other as a team and who can do what,” Easter said. “We had really good chemistry going into the season and it’s paid off up to this point. We’re happy with the improvement.”

The good team chemistry shows, because the first-grade Hot Hoops make more passes than many fifth- and sixth-grade teams.