I've told people that unless you were involved in the program (back when I was named varsity coach in 2001) it was impossible to know the potential that was there in the freshman and 8th grade classes. Potential. A word that is positive because it means that the possibility is there, but something is missing, something still needs to be fulfilled. Hard work. Dedication. Sacrifice. Teamwork. These kids and my coaching staff did these things to fulfill the potential that was waiting to be tapped. We reached our potential as a basketball team and along with that reached our goals. We played two of our best games in two of the biggest games; Sunnyside for the North Yosemite League Championship and Hoover for the Division II Valley Championship. Reedley Basketball, Valley

Champions... ..it's still a little hard to believe.

This season has made me proud of so many things. Proud that I was able to fulfill my dream as a coach of playing (and winning) in front of a packed Reedley High gymnasium in a championship caliber game (we played 4 of them, this year). Proud that my former high school coach accepted my offer of being a Reedley Pirate again. Proud that Jorge is Jorge and Tony is Tony, and that they both give so much time and energy behind the scenes to make this program a success. Proud that my players were truly a team and they relied and trusted my staff and me in giving them the tools and smarts to be great. I am proud that we played with so much heart and determination, that players stepped up to the challenge and together, found the way. Proud of the community support that stood and cheered so many times. I am mostly proud that I was able to play a part and have a front row seat of history.

I will always have the memories of the 2004 season and so will the 12 players and everyone else who witnessed this amazing trek toward being champions.