YMCA Hornets – Championship Game Day

There’s a moment before every championship game when things get quiet.

Not silent. Just still enough to feel everything at once—anticipation, pride, reflection. And this morning? That moment came before the sun even broke through the clouds over Central Florida.

This is it.

Not just the end of a season. Not just a shot at a third straight championship. It’s the closing chapter in something bigger. A journey. A philosophy. A belief system built over four seasons—etched into every drill, every rotation, every mantra.

From that very first loss… to a legacy.

The Trophy That Wasn’t Ours—Yet

Look at the photo above. There are three trophies on the mantle.

The truth? We’ve only officially won two.

That first “extra” trophy wasn’t earned on the court—it was claimed by belief. It was visualization. Foreshadowing. It sat there as a reminder: We’re building toward something.

That trophy became a symbol. And as Season 2 closed out with a perfect record and a championship, the second trophy joined it.

Then Season 3? Another undefeated run. Another championship. And still… that original trophy stood in the center.

Waiting.

Not as a placeholder—but as a promise.

Wristbands and Warriors

There’s a rule in youth basketball: no jewelry, no wristbands. So when one of the most consistent players on this team handed over a wristband before a game, I put it in my pocket and forgot about it.

Later, I placed it around that third, still-unearned trophy. A gesture—half accidental, half instinct.

And it stayed there.

Another wristband was added: “Victory belongs to those who challenge the impossible.”

Now both bands rest on the trophy that will be earned today.

If we do what we’re supposed to do. If we play the way we know how. If we hustle hard.

We will close this chapter with 30 wins. 3 losses. 3 championships.

And then, I’ll return those wristbands.

Because they were never about superstition. They were about trust. Commitment. Identity.

Why 3?

Why does 3 matter?

We don’t know for sure—but we feel it.

• 3 Seasons of dominance (starting from the first undefeated run)
• 3 Championships (when we finish the job today)
• 30 Wins. 3 Losses.
• 3 pillars of the MindWarriors model: Structure. Identity. Belief.
• The Holy Trinity. Unity. Balance. Completion.

Maybe it’s coincidence. Maybe it’s culture. Or maybe it’s confirmation.

All we know is… everything feels aligned.

The Last Practice

We went into Thursday’s final practice unsure of who’d show up.

But 7 out of 9 players were there—including some who weren’t at the last game. That changed everything. The energy shifted. Confidence re-emerged. We reconnected with who we are.

We ran our sets, adjusted a few looks, and locked in our approach. It wasn’t flashy. But it was focused.

The type of practice a championship team has.

Championship Morning Ritual

This morning, I laced up. Grabbed the trophy.

The same one that’s sat on the mantle waiting for its moment.

I put on the wristbands.

The same ones that have quietly held space for belief.

And now, we head to the gym—just like we’ve done every season:

• We’ll bring the “Defense Wins Championships” sign.
• We’ll circle up.
• Everyone puts a hand on the sign.
• And we open like we always do:

“Who are we?”

“Hornets!”

“What do we do?”

“Hustle hard!”

“One. Two. Three…”

“Swarm!”

And no matter what happens next—that moment is ours.

What’s Ending—and What’s Not

This might be the last time I coach this team. Possibly at this YMCA.

But what’s been built here?

That doesn’t end.

The system will live on. The culture will carry. The belief will transfer to whatever gym, team, or player walks into the MindWarriors model next.

Because belief is transferable. Discipline is scalable. And systems don’t depend on zip codes.

Today’s game is about honoring all of it.

To the Hornets

You’ve done something rare.

You’ve gone from not knowing how to win…

To hoping you could win…

To believing you would win…

To knowing that winning is who you are.

And belief like that?

It stays with you.

Let’s finish it the way we started.

With hustle. With heart. With purpose.

With 30 wins.

With 3 championships.

With everything we’ve earned—together.

One last time.

Who are we?

Hornets!

What do we do?

Hustle hard!

One, two, three…

SWARM.