The second- and third-grade Terrapins’ offense slipped just a bit in the preseason Hoopster Tournament championship game, but that didn’t matter in the end.

The Terrapins’ offensive output was still good enough to give the team a 40-8 victory over the Hoosiers on Nov. 16 at the East Lawrence Recreation Center.

Head coach Joe Keating said his team’s defense was the key to success.

“Our all-around team defense was better tonight, and our help defense was great tonight,” Keating said. “Every time they drove the ball in the lane we had another guy helping out, and that’s what it takes.”

Keating was not kidding when he said his team’s defense played great. The Terrapins didn’t allow the Hoosiers to score a basket for the first 23 1/2 minutes of the game. The Terrapins held a 20-0 lead at halftime, with three players already having scored at least five points.

“I told the players that our kitchen is the basketball goal, and no one goes in our kitchen, so everyone protects our house there,” Keating said. “When I broke it down into those terms for the guys, they really understood the concept of team defense.”

If the Terrapins play defense in the kitchen, then they play offense in the video game room.

Guard Andrew Keating scored in double figures for the second straight week. He had a game high 13 points, one better than his total in the quarterfinals.

The Terrapins started the game off misfiring a bit on offense, but their accuracy improved as the game progressed.

“It was an all-around team effort on offense,” Keating said. “We got our big guys involved with the guards distributing the ball very well on the break. Our guys really understand the spacing on offense.”

The Terrapins spread the ball around on offense with seven of their nine players notching points. Point guard Spencer Grob finished right behind Andrew Keating with nine points of his own. Forward Kyle Hoffman rounded out the attack with eight points.

Terrapins guard Daniel Spain dribbles down the court Nov. 16 in the second- and third-grade preseason Hoopster Tournament championship at the East Lawrence Center.

Keating said that even though the Terrapins beat the Hoosiers by 32 points he expects the Hoosiers to be a formidable foe later in the regular season.

“The Hoosiers have got a lot of good guys on their team,” Keating said. “By the end of the year they’re going to give us a lot better game and we know that. We’re going to have to improve every week.”

The preseason Hoopster Tournament gave all the teams an opportunity to get out on the court and see how each team plays. Keating does not think the Hoosiers have stopped developing.

“The Hoosiers are going to be a really good team, but it will take a little time for them to all come together,” Keating said.

Both teams have plenty of time to improve, as they will face off again in the regular season.