It was looking extra shiny last Friday afternoon inside Lincoln Christian School, as the current Class 4A girls basketball state champs unveiled their rings after bringing home the gold ball this past spring.
Players, coaches and administrators got their first look at the glistening rings with diamonds surrounding the interlocking LC, a perfect final celebration of the 2024-25 season.
Lincoln beat Douglass 39-36 in the final game ever at the Big House (Jim Norick Arena) in the state tournament in mid-March, taking home the school's first ever girls basketball state title.
Head coach Melody Stewart sat back and watched her team in awe of the ring, with the smiles reminding her of last spring
"I loved getting to relive that moment with the team," said Stewart. "It was exciting to see their reactions to the ring."
The Bulldogs finished the year 30-2 and finally took home the gold ball, after falling in the state championship the prior two years.
Stewart has led her team to an 83-8 mark since the start of the 2022-23 season.
Lincoln won 23 straight to finish the season with a gold ball. The Bulldogs have made the state semifinals in five straight seasons.
"This team will forever be one of, if not, the most selfless teams I have ever coached," said Stewart. "Watching them one by one trust in our plan and willing to step in and play their part is a memory I will hold onto forever."
It is a culmination of many years of hard work throughout the program, as Stewart has built the program from the ground up over the last 11 years, including many of her players now that started in the elementary program.
"It's an incredible honor to witness this group of kids — many who have grown through our program over the past 11 years — fully buy in and take that bold step to the next level," Stewart said.
And for Stewart, this is about even more than the 15 girls that stepped onto the floor of the Big House last March.
This is about every player that has come through the program before, helping lay the foundation for this day.
"But for me, this championship isn't just about today's team. It's about every girl who ever wore this jersey and every coach who helped lay the foundation at LCS long before I stepped into this role," said Stewart.
"This moment belongs to all of them, too. Valuing the journey — every step, every season, every sacrifice— is what makes this so meaningful."
