The Warwick (PAL) Warriors youth travel basketball program recently wrapped up a highly successful season as it continued to grow in the 2023-2024 season with 14 teams competing in the RI MetroWest program, including four girls teams.

Five teams reached their respective state championship games with four of those teams capturing divisional titles.

Among the champions, the fourth grade boys A team had another historic run this season that included multiple major championships.The team captured the New England MetroWest Championship on March 17, defeating some of the region’s top teams.

The week prior, the boys also earned their way to their third consecutive D1 Rhode Island MetroWest State Championship, and on March 6, the team won the state title once again, going back-to-back in decisive fashion.

This group has won 73 games together over their last two seasons in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. In addition to the 2024 New England and State Championships, the team also finished the season as the D1 Regular Season Champions, the RIYBA Thanksgiving Tournament Champions, Mass Premier Jamfest Tournament Champions, RIYBA MLK Tournament Champions, RIYBA Presidents’ Day Tournament Champions, and remained undefeated in MetroWest play for the second consecutive season against both fourth and fifth grade opponents.

“I could not be more proud of the boys on this team for how focused they remained all year, for how relentlessly hard they work and play for each other, and how dedicated they are to becoming better people both on and off the court. The boys had to deal with taking everyone’s best shot in every game. That is not easy to do 40 times a year. As I mentioned after last season’s championship run though, it is very difficult to deal with a team like ours that treats each other like brothers. All of the kids on the team would literally run through walls for one another, whether we were winning by 2 or 32. That mentality, that intensity, the effort, and that approach does not change, and that is awfully tough for opponents to match that,” head coach Jim Garcia said.

Garcia also coached the sixth grade girls team to its third consecutive Division II Rhode Island MetroWest State Championship game this season and captured their second state title in three years.

In addition to the state championship, the team was Division II regular season champions, won over 25 games on the season throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Additionally, the girls qualified and competed in the New England MetroWest Championships on March 16 and 17 and represented Rhode Island and the Warwick Youth Basketball program well with their relentless and tenacious play.

“Sixth grade is a very difficult year for travel basketball. In addition to the demands of the travel season, the girls are also transitioning to middle school which isn’t exactly simple. They have to balance and juggle not only travel basketball but life in general, family dynamics, their academics, and also the commitments to their middle school basketball teams. What they accomplished this season was impressive and did not come easy or without sacrifice,” Garcia said.

The fourth grade boys B team led by coach Seth Holbrook had an amazing season winning the Division III tournament championship and finishing with an overall record of 19-8 including winning the MLK Jr. Tournament.

“I can’t say enough good things about this group of players, their parents, our coaches and the organization. We had so much support and commitment from everyone to improve as a team and I’m glad the boys got to experience the thrill of winning a championship,” Holbrook said. “In our championship game, the boys rallied to close a 5-point gap going into half - including a buzzer beater 3-pointer - and never looked back to take the victory.”

After a tough season at the Division I level, the fifth grade boys A team led by coach Andy Tourageau was placed as the No. 5 seed in the Division II State Tournament, from there the team went on a three-game winning streak, beating teams by an average margin of 24 points, to capture the championship.

To see how the rest of the league fared this past season, check out and online recap at www.warwickonline.com.

The Warwick (PAL) Warriors compete against teams in MetroWest RI and the Rhode Island Youth Basketball Association, with teams from third to eighth grade. For more information visit warwickyouthbasketballri.org