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…

No Suspense Needed: The Hornets Held the Line Let’s not save the drama for later—the Hornets won 35-21. But how they won tells the real story. Because it wasn’t just about the scoreboard; it was about structure, system, and a commitment that has now become a defining identity for this team. We were built differently. And it showed. Starting With Purpose: Practice, Prep, and the Six Who Were Ready We came into the game knowing we’d have six players. Our core four were locked in. One player, who had been out sick, showed up last minute. Another, my son, was with me that morning after a difficult week. It was…

It’s often said that championships are built on talent, but won with discipline. That belief couldn’t be more true after Game 5 of the Hornets’ season—a 28–17 win over a tough and gritty Lakers team. Was it our best game of the season? No. Was it another step toward a championship culture? Absolutely. Because sometimes the real story isn’t about how you start or finish—but how you hold the middle together when execution slips, rotations shift, and the structure is tested. A Win That Raised Questions From the outside looking in, a double-digit win might appear comfortable. But from a coaching standpoint, it was a game filled with important teaching…

In youth basketball, the difference between a good team and a great one often comes down to details—not just on the scoreboard, but in how a team prepares, adjusts, and executes under pressure. This weekend, the Hornets face a familiar rival. It’s a team known for grit and hustle, one that always plays hard and keeps the score close. Games like this have history, emotion, and momentum. But this game won’t be won by passion alone—it will be won by preparation, discipline, and accountability. Building a Culture That Travels As the season progresses, each game becomes less about record and more about identity. Every pass, screen, substitution, and timeout becomes…

Opponent: Heat Final Score: Hornets 52, Heat 28 Result: Win (3–0) In the ever-shifting world of youth basketball, especially within a league like the YMCA where teams form and reform with each new season, building consistency can be a challenge. Players come and go. Rosters change. Chemistry resets. But every so often, a game comes along that reveals what a strong system—and belief in that system—can accomplish, regardless of who’s on the floor. For the Hornets in Game 3 of Season 4, that moment arrived under the pressure of uncertainty, low numbers, and the absence of two of their top players. What began with the threat of disqualification turned into…

Setting the Tone Before the Score Before the scoreboard lit up, before the press defense kicked in, and before the first whistle blew, our team locked in—not just physically, but mentally. Who are we?—Hornets. What do we do?—Hustle hard. One, two, three—Swarm. That chant isn’t hype. It’s identity. It’s structure. And most importantly—it’s intention. Every player on the floor, on the bench, and in our tribe is part of something greater. That’s the Mind Warriors way. The Philosophy Behind the Play Three seasons ago, the Hornets were a raw, undisciplined group with talent but no structure. Today, they’re a two-time undefeated champion team built on discipline, trust, and emotional intelligence.…

Season 4 – Game 1 Date: April 19, 2025 Opponent: Hornets vs. Magic Result: Win (1–0) Before the first whistle, before the press, before the scoreboard even started ticking—we returned to the roots: Who are we? Hornets. What do we do? Hustle hard. One, two, three—Swarm. That’s not just a chant. It’s an identity. A reminder that every player wearing that jersey is part of something bigger. A system. A standard. A mindset. The Journey to Season 4 After inheriting the Hornets—a team known for talent but lacking discipline—the transformation began. In my first season, we faced early losses, but they became lessons. We learned how to lose, how to…