THE POWER OF BELIEF

After winning back-to-back championships in 2005 and 2006, the Lady Lions faced a daunting challenge to start the 2007 season.

It wasn’t the loss of four players to graduation that was unexpected, but the loss of five others due to transfer, placing the team firmly into the “rebuilding” category.

Cross-town rival Panama City Christian, with four Senior starters and league leading scorer and All-Conference selection Sharee Hudson, were the hands-down favorite to bulldoze their way through the conference and claim the first girls basketball title in the school’s 45 year history.

However, the Lady Lions weren’t ready to concede defeat just yet.

Considering the lack of depth on the roster (not even one Senior), the chances of repeating for a third straight title seemed all but impossible. Of the three returning players, only one had been a starter, and three others were mere 8th graders, one of which had never even played basketball.

Early in the 2007 season, the team gathered in the gym and stared at an empty spot up on the wall, and made themselves a promise, that at the end of the season, this team of young and inexperienced players would be hanging a championship banner in that very spot.

Total and unwavering belief in each other and in the team verse Philippians 4:13, was the fuel that ignited an unbelievable 22-5 season. And by the way, yes… they did hang a conference championship banner in that very spot shortly after beating Panama City Christian by 15-points in the championship game.

So as we head into the 2010 season with only five returning players, it is important to understand the power of belief and the impact it can have on a team. This isn’t the end of a championship run… it’s not even the beginning of the end… but it’s possible that it may just be the end of the beginning.

4:13