Sea to Sky youth basketball academy Hoop Reel is officially rebranding as Hustle Basketball—and that's not the only exciting news they have to share.
The organization's U15 boys roster won a mid-November tournament in Richmond by way of a sparkling 4-0 record. The U17 squad also took part, bouncing back from two early losses to finish 2-2.
"Overall we are incredibly proud of both teams," said Whistler Hustle head coach Bo Banner. "One key factor that sparked the U15 team’s journey to becoming champions and fuelled the U17 team’s remarkable comeback is something we emphasize at every practice: 'all work, no luck.' This motto is not just words: it’s a mindset and habit we instil daily.
"Watching the teams fall back on this foundation when it mattered most and seeing it lead to their success is truly rewarding."
Craig and Natalie Tricco co-own Whistler Life Property Management, and both their kids have trained with Hustle Basketball since its inception as Hoop Reel. The family has only good things to say about their experience.
"Our sons Joshua and Lucas both love basketball, and the program really increased their passion for the game," Craig said. "Bo Banner and Fabrice Muligo have been fantastic coaches and really engaging guys. They've gone above and beyond outside of the [Hustle Basketball] program just to mentor these kids."
Seventeen-year-old Joshua Tricco has aspirations of hooping at the post-secondary level, causing Banner to give him and another club member private training sessions. Meanwhile, Muligo has been coaching the Whistler Secondary School (WSS) senior boys basketball team free of charge.
'You can't play better than you practice'
Results-wise, glory belongs to Lucas Tricco and his fellow U15s.
They might have entered the Richmond tournament, held Nov. 16 and 17 by third party Drive Basketball, with some trepidation in their hearts. Some Whistler kids perceive Vancouver as a big place full of intimidating athletes, but Banner and Muligo helped their pupils overcome such a view.
The U15 boys showed flashes of dominance, winning their first two games 47-23 and 59-17. They also proved capable of grinding out closer matches with 47-42 and 48-40 victories to wrap up their schedule.
With each breakthrough, the kids' confidence swelled.
"As parents, [we would] go to these tournaments in the city and see them lose the majority of their games at first, but now they're winning," said Natalie. "It feels really good."
Banner added: "We believe the U15 team was able to rise to the occasion and perform so well because everyone on the unit contributed to scoring. Unlike the last tournament … this time the entire starting five demonstrated their ability to score in various ways while also playing strong defence. This teamwork not only made our gameplay more productive but also made us much harder for opponents to stop.
"The team looked like a well-coordinated unit on the court, complementing each other’s strengths and covering for each other’s weaknesses. In short, they played together and they did it exceptionally well. It’s clear their strong performance comes from falling back on their training, proving the saying true: 'you can’t play better than you practice.'"
Flush your mistakes
The Hustle Basketball U17s faced a tougher road, but they too have matured.
Half a dozen senior athletes, including Joshua, have now played their final tournament before graduation. All six have been on board since the beginning. Naturally they wanted to win and found early defeats tough to stomach.
But carry on they did.
"For the U17 team, this tournament was a powerful lesson in understanding that the only things they can truly control are their attitude and effort. Coach Fabrice and I emphasized this after losing our first two games," said Banner. "Too often, timeout advice fell on deaf ears, but these setbacks helped them realize the importance of being receptive to coaching.
"One of the biggest challenges in life is learning to 'flush' mistakes rather than dwelling on them. We teach our players that you can’t undo what’s already happened, but you can focus on the next play and bring your best effort and attitude. Watching [these U17s] grow over the years into young adults has been a true blessing for Fabrice and I."
Hustle Basketball parents are grateful that the organization sets its athletes up for real life. Determination can help you win on court, but it can also help you power through in college, in the workforce and so on.
"[Sport] helps kids understand that you can rise above making a mistake," remarked Craig. "If you learn to just charge forward and let the past be the past, you can rise up and win."
These lessons have already started to pay dividends. Craig and Natalie have seen younger boys like Lucas gain social confidence in school, especially when interacting with upperclassmen. The team dynamic of basketball teaches them how to work in groups, how to celebrate their peers' success and—most of all—have grace for their peers when things aren't going well.
Learn more about Hustle Basketball at hustlebasketball.ca/hustlebasketball.
