CLEARWATER, Fla. — Moments like celebrating state championships don’t just happen. 

A lot of hard work and hundreds of hours of practice go into winning titles. Senior Brooke Green’s final point started the celebration for Clearwater Central Catholic, one that the Marauders had been dreaming of for a long time.

“I told these girls from the very first they were the most talented team,” head coach Wendy Hensley said. “It was really just a matter of if they could come together and be a team, 'cause individually, they have an enormous amount of talent. We walked into that Berkeley game for the first round of the state tournament and it was on. And from that point on, they played amazing ball.”

All teams dream of winning state titles. It’s a goal at the start of every season. The Marauders were able to obtain that goal in a big way.

“I knew from the beginning, like I really hoped we could do it I knew that we had the talent and the girls to win it all,” Brooke said.

So many of these state champions are going to play at the next level, including Brooke, who is taking her talents to the University of Tampa. She’s bringing her skills and a state title mentality to the Spartans program.

“It’s a good feeling going into college and just being confident and knowing that just playing as ourselves and having a good attitude and being positive and all those things is what brings a team together and that’s what made us win,” Brooke said. “So, it’s a really great feeling and I can’t wait to play at the next level.”

To the victors go the spoils. That includes a trophy, gold medals and eventually a new banner in the gym, the school’s first since their last state championship in 2014. 

“It’s something that you’ll remember forever and be able to tell you kids and family about for the rest of your life,” Brooke said. “It’s just unreal that we did it. But I knew if there was a team that could do it, it was us. We don’t give up and that really showed in our postseason.”