Counting the number of scanner inputs by a user without using a loop

I'm not supposed to use loops for this assignment. Just if/else statements.

I'm trying to get the number of inputs(up to a maximum of 8 inputs) from the scanner and adding them to a counter.

For example, if the user enters 1 3 6 4, the counter should equal 4.

  import java.util.Scanner;
  public class MyPredictionsOfCodeBehaviour {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
       Scanner userInput = new Scanner(System.in);
       System.out.println("Enter some numbers between 1 and 8."0;
       int counter = userInput.nextInt();
       System.out.println(counter);
       userInput.close();
    }


  }