Two talented teams battled for the Hoopster Junior High Boys post season crown Saturday at Langston Hughes Elementary. The Terrapins and the Hoopsters fought each other to the final seconds before the Terrapins sealed a close 43-38 victory and the championship.

Two players nearly singlehandedly carried their teams throughout the game. When in need of bucket, the Terrapins didn’t have to look further than Taylor Stuart, who scored nearly half his team’s baskets. Stuart’s game-high 21 points were only rivaled by his opponent Matt Wade, who poured in 17 points of his own.

Stuart attributed his offensive outburst to running the floor hard and being aggressive with the ball.

“It really started on defense,” Stuart said. “We forced some turnovers and used our defense to spark the offense.”

In the first quarter though, Blaine Kaehr sparked the Terrapins with back-to-back three pointers. Stuart got his first points in the paint late in the quarter as the Terps sprinted to a 14-5 advantage after one period of play.

Hoopster Matt Wade showed he could shoot the three ball just as well when he canned a long-distance jumper to open the second quarter. The Terrapins answered by going inside to their big man, Chris Lyons, who converted baskets on two straight possessions. With their nine-point advantage intact, the Terrapins headed into halftime with all the momentum on their side.

Matt Wade gathers the ball on his way to the hoop early in the second half. Wade scored 15 points for the Hoopsters Saturday at Langston Hughes Elementary.

“We really just wanted it more,” Stuart said after the game.

Early in the third quarter, though, the Hoopsters set out to prove that they wanted the game just as bad. Wade scored first, then on the Hoopsters’ next trip down the floor, guard Tim Lewis drove the lane and found him again streaking towards the basket for an easy layup. After a Terrapin basket, Wade drilled another three and on the Terps’ ensuing possession, Lewis forced a turnover and converted the layup cutting the lead to four and forcing a Terrapin timeout.

Taylor Stuart drives through the lane past a Hoopster defender. Stuart had a game-high 21 points in the Terrapins' 43-38 victory Saturday at Langston Hughes Elementary.

The Hoopsters continued to pour it on in the fourth quarter and after six straight points from guards Ross Johnson and Alex Laughlin, the Hoopsters took their first lead, 30-29, on yet another three from Wade. None of the Terrapins panicked and Stuart quietly took over, scoring 10 points in the period and keeping the Hoopsters at arm’s length. With just one minute left the Terps clung to a four-point lead, which they maintained at the free-throw line.

“We simply didn’t hustle enough and they gave more effort,” Hoopster guard Mike Lembeck said. “For our part, we really worked the ball around and were unselfish, but we weren’t always able to finish.”

Perhaps what made it tough for the Hoopsters was the fact that they were playing their last game together. For three years, the young men on the team had played alongside each other and will know be separated by different high schools and no longer able to play in the Hoopster Basketball League. The team presented their coach with a game ball signed by all the players after the game.

On the other side, the Terrapins reveled in their victory and seemed to have just as much energy after the game as they did midway through. Their celebration sparked impromptu dunk attempts and a long range contest, rivaling NBA All-Star weekend.

“It’s just great to be the champs,” Stuart said.