For the Mattapoisett Recreation basketball league, sinking the ball is important, but teaching sportsmanship is number one.

That was why Sarabeth Morrell decided to coach a team of third and fourth grade students this season.

“At this age, it should be about fundamentals and having fun,” said Morrell.

An English instructor at Old Rochester Regional High School, Morrell played basketball in high school and also coached junior varsity at the start of her career.

Teaching young kids, including her two sons, how to be good athletes means balancing the “competitive spirit” with a not-to-serious attitude.

“Coaches have the responsibility to keep the scores close,” Morrell said, a Rochester resident. “Of course, someone has to win.”

Passing the ball multiple times helps give every kid a chance to play, and more importantly, to improve while evening out scores.

“After the games that we didn’t win, I talked to them about what I thought they did well,” said Morrell.

And although her team didn’t make it past the semifinals, she said every player improved.

Of their final game, she said: “It was not a numerical win, but it was a great way to end the season.”

While the junior high teams are more competitive, seventh and eighth grade coach Mark MacGregor of Rochester said a recreational league is and should be geared towards learning the game.

MacGregor, who had one son on his team and two on Morrell’s, said: “At [Mattapoisett Recreation] it’s equal playing time.”

He said his team’s 9-2 season was partially due to the foundational rule he set out from the first practice.

“My biggest thing in the beginning of the season was for them to respect me and I would respect them,” MacGregor said.

Once the group learned to play well together, he said they excelled at the game.

“My goal was if they went home with a smile on their face than you did your job,” said the coach. “I had a great group of players.”

MacGregor said honing their skills in the recreation league should also have good results for the students’ transition as they transition to junior varsity and varsity basketball.

“The high school should enjoy quite a bit of success.”