Royal Crown and Prolific Prep Claim Grind Session Championships in Lawrence, Kansas

March 23, 2025 Lawrence Kansas

Bill Self, Kansas Jayhawks Head Coach watches the action

The 2025 Grind Session season concluded with two thrilling championship matchups in Lawrence, Kansas, showcasing the best talent from the Power Conference and Revolution Conference. In an unforgettable night of basketball, history was made on both the men’s and women’s sides.

Royal Crown Pulls Off Stunning Upset in Women’s Championship

In a massive upset, Royal Crown Women’s Basketball from Canada stunned top-seeded DME Academy 56-55 to claim their first-ever Grind Session World Championship. DME Academy entered the contest undefeated, led by 2025 Grind Session Women’s MVP Gigi Battle, and controlled the game through three quarters. However, a relentless defensive effort from Royal Crown in the final frame turned the tide.

Trailing throughout the game, Royal Crown intensified their defensive pressure and slowly chipped away at the deficit. With just two minutes remaining, they managed to tie the game and then seize the lead. Their determination on defense held off DME’s last efforts, securing a historic victory for the Canadian squad.

Yohana Fami was named the game’s MVP with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals. Divine Tumba added an impressive 12 points and 8 rebounds to fuel Royal Crown’s championship triumph. This victory marks the first-ever Grind Session title for a Canadian team, cementing Royal Crown’s place in history.

Prolific Prep Dominates in Men’s Championship

The men’s championship featured a dominant performance by Prolific Prep, who secured their third consecutive Grind Session title with a 77-50 win over another Canadian squad, Fort Erie. Fort Erie had pulled off an impressive victory the night before, defeating Utah Prep and top prospect AJ Dybantsa, but they ran into a powerhouse in Prolific Prep.

Prolific Prep, led by head coach Ryan Bernardi, entered the game with a near-perfect record of 72-1 in Grind Session play over the past three seasons. The opening minutes were intense and physical, with tempers flaring early. Referees had to step in twice to separate players, leading to technical fouls. However, once the first quarter ended, Prolific Prep took control and never looked back.

Washington commit Niko Bundalo dominated inside, while Naismith Award winner Darryn Peterson, Michigan commit Winters Grady (14 points and 3 rebounds) and junior standout Seven Spurlock orchestrated an unstoppable offensive attack. Peterson delivered an MVP-worthy performance, recording 23 points and 9 rebounds as his future Kansas coach, Bill Self, watched from the sideline.

The victory secured Prolific Prep’s fourth Grind Session World Championship in six years, further solidifying their dynasty. The team had little time to celebrate as they quickly departed for a 9 PM flight back to California to prepare for the Chipotle National, set for April 2-5.

A Memorable Year for the Grind Session

The 2025 Grind Session season was nothing short of spectacular, continuing the legacy of elite high school basketball competition. Now in its 11th year, the Grind Session has consistently delivered high-level action across all three conferences—Power, Revolution, and Elevation. This year’s championships not only highlighted the dominance of Prolific Prep but also introduced a new force in women’s basketball with Royal Crown’s groundbreaking victory.

As the season comes to a close, the Grind Session community eagerly anticipates what’s next for these rising stars, many of whom will soon take their talents to the collegiate and professional levels.

2024-25 Prolific Prep (M) v Fort Erie (M)