BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Whether you want to credit the team for drumming up some mid-season confidence via their successful stretch or salute the squad’s brand new supporters, who kept Barclays Center LOUD during the final 10 outs of the night …

… The New York Mavericks stormed into Brooklyn, New York, with a vengeance.

And when the Friday night slate wrapped up, they exited with a HUGE hometown victory.

RELATED: New York Mavericks earn commanding three-ride score, upset win against Kansas City Outlaws during hometown debut

After combining for just two rides through their first five games, starting the year just 2-for-25 as a team, New York has now secured two qualified rides in three of their last four games.

Even more key for the expansion unit, they’ve managed to win three of their four last games heading into Saturday’s finale, while continuing to see their ride totals, and scores, climb.

Head Coach Kody Lostroh and his gang made a statement on night one, as Friday night’s 260.25-0 win over Cassio Dias and the Kansas City Outlaws represented the highest-scoring game in franchise history, also marking the first time the Mavericks have gone 3-for-5.

“We’re super excited to be here. We’ve been planning and doing all of the work for everything we’ve been through this week. Just being here and doing all the PR stuff that goes with it,” Lostroh said.

“But we’re into the fun stuff now. This is what it’s all about. This is what these guys work every day of their lives for. So, for it to finally be here is perfect timing.”

New York has been a sporting power house for decades now.

And when home base is in the middle of one of the biggest media markets in the world, you’re going to witness to some of the brightest lights in the business. In the entertainment business that is – not just the PBR Camping World Team Series circuit.

Officially 4-5 on the season and now 4-1 in their last five contests, they didn’t need much time getting used to the big stage. What did require a little time is the bond atop the chutes, inside the locker room and on travel days. But they seem to be figuring things out on that front now, as well.

“These guys are still getting to know each other. Some know each other, some don’t, but the culture needs to be just like our motto: Concrete Cowboys,” Lostroh said.

“Being hard. Staying hard. Putting in the work – not only physically, but mentally. That’s what this world needs and what this sport needs, is a hard man that can get the job done.”

Given the squad was able to find some success during their first opportunity to impress within the Concrete Jungle, itself, the name and motto are beyond fitting. As are the results, now that things are rolling.

“Confidence is contagious. When the wins start rolling and the morale goes up, their belief in themselves starts to get strong every time and we’re going to keep adding to it this weekend.”

Having had their pick of dozens of different riders during the 2024 PBR Teams Expansion Draft, Lostroh identified guys who fit that bill: tough, gritty grinders. But the ability to avoid injuries as a whole in the sport of bull riding often comes down more to luck than skill.

Bumps and bruises will come. It’s how they navigate them which has served as the ultimate difference-maker for New York.

Thankfully for the Mavericks, they’re trending in the right direction in that vein, as well.

“The injury bug bit us hard and bit us fast, but we can’t complain about it because it’s part of this sport. The bottom line is that these guys have stepped up and they’re trying their asses off every time,” skip shared.

“There’s no plan b, right? You have to be tough, and you have to get through it, and that’s what they’re doing.”

Vitor Losnake, Braidy Randolph, Marco Rizzo, Leonardo Castro … the list of ailing cowboys goes on.

But, able to return from an upper-body injury sustained during preseason ramp-up efforts, the team’s first-round draft pick (No. 3 overall) from the spring’s 2024 PBR Teams New Rider Draft in Hudson Bolton couldn’t have picked a better time to get back.

Back in a BIG way.

“Hudson broke his shoulder blade the day after our training camp wrapped. That’s the only reason he hasn’t been in. But he just got cleared and got on a few practice bulls,” Lostroh added.

“We drew a good bull in the first round that suited him well for his first event as an 18-year-old kid on the big stage. Time to get him broke in.”

Stepping in and throwing down a quality 86-point trip aboard Hit or Miss during his PBR Teams debut, the youngster could be a huge boost for the Mavericks during their hopeful climb up the standings. Having occupied the No. 10 spot for a majority of the 2024 season, New York is up to the No. 8 spot heading into Week 5.

While we’ve seen some late-season magic play out rather favorably in the past (see the 2022 Champion Nashville Stampede, or last fall’s electric Missouri Thunder run), the Mavericks are merely eight games into their first season. And have plenty of blank pages to create their own Cinderella story.

They won’t, however, be measuring themselves against anybody else but the men within their locker room. It starts and ends with the boys rocking navy and red.

“We don’t compare around here. Everybody has their struggles. At the end of the day, our job is to ride five bulls every time we step out there. That’s what we’re focused on. What happens with the other teams is their deal. We wish them well, but we’re in our own lane here,” Lostroh concluded.

“The ultimate success is 10 bulls ridden here. That’s what we come to do here every time. Obviously a win is a win. We take them however we can get them. But ultimately that’s our focus – Riding every bull, every time.”

The Mavericks concluded the weekend by upsetting MVP Teams frontrunner John Crimber and his Florida Freedom Saturday night, courtesy of another clutch performance from rookie Hudson Bolton.

After spoiling the Freedom’s home-opener last weekend in Sunrise, Florida, the Mavericks improved to 2-0 all-time against the red, white and blue squad, most recently defeating Florida 85.75-0.

Fans can stay tuned to PBR.com, @PBR social media channels and Merit Street for all of this season’s PBR Camping World Team Series camaraderie-driven action!

Photo courtesy of Bull Stock Media