The third- and fourth-grade Salvation Army Hornets basketball team seems to be the team to beat this season. Despite participation in a sport that demands practice and perfection in exchange for improvement, the Hornets have shaped themselves up into a formidable team going undefeated, 5-0, in just four short weeks.

“We got the group together only a month ago and have just been working on the basics ever since,” Hornets head coach Kevin Gloss said. “They are a great bunch of kids and they play really well together.”

The Hornets showcased their talent Friday night as they met to face the Clippers at Cordley Elementary. The Hornets spared no time in securing their victory, 32-3.

It was probably the bucket arsenal from the hands of Quinn Twombly, or Luke Fursman’s barrage of steals, or the expert assists from Weston Gloss that perfected the Hornets’ game and shot them to victory.

The Hornets took advantage in the first quarter building an early lead. Weston Gloss sunk the first bucket for his team and Fursman breezed past Clippers defenders for a couple of steals. Michael Burton and Twombly hit their marks with baskets and Weston Gloss sunk a second bucket.

Twombly said the game allowed the team to take advantage of some strategies they learned in practice.

“We really worked on our picks in practice and did use them well tonight,” Twombly said.

It took a Jackson Schneider steal to push the Clippers within scoring potential. The Clippers’ Trevor Munsch weaved the ball through a crowd of defenders to find the basket but was stopped short by Hornet Matt Gray from getting it into the net.

The Hornets bounded into the second quarter with a bucket from Burton. Weston Gloss stepped in with an assist that turned into a fastbreak opportunity converted by Twombly at the other end of the court. Gloss came back with a basket of his own from underneath the hoop before the second quarter ended.

The Hornets and Clippers fight for the rebound Friday at Cordley Elementary.

Khalim Dowdell fought for the Clippers with an two-point attempt that flew just off the rim. Schneider succeeded in scoring for the team with a free throw. The point was enough to give the Clippers a fighting edge and they forced the Hornets’ defense to cluster around the hoop. Dowdell finished out the second quarter with another attempted basket, this time a three-pointer that was just off center of making it in.

Though down by 18, the Clippers didn’t relent as they entered the third. The Hornets missed some crucial baskets thanks in part to the Clippers’ solid defense. Munsch made a steal on a Hornets rebound and then sunk in two free throws.

Tim Gray was temporarily sent to the Hornets’ bench after suffering an injury on the court. Though temporarily set back with the injury and the missed buckets, Twombly and Burton both broke through for two Hornets baskets. The team finished out the third with the edge.

The fourth quarter drove the victory home for the Hornets as Tim Craig eluded Clippers defenders and landed a basket while on the run. Craig added a point from the charity stripe. Twombly rounded out the quarter with a final bucket, sinking a shot after not being able to find the net. Even though the Clippers held strong, their game wasn’t enough to beat their undefeated opponents.

Coach Gloss said the Hornets victory was the result of some very basic skills.

“I think they played well,” Gloss said. “They played good on-the-ball defense and hustled and rebounded well.”

Twombly said he looks forward to building the team’s skills and their utilizing teamwork to build an eventful season.

“I think we will have a successful season because we are cooperative and we work our hardest,” Twombly said.