Mike, neither do I.
You had each player have their time during the regular season. That's important to give each one participate with you helping each of them grow. During a championship, the best players play. Competition is not a bad word.
Your story reminded me of an incident when my boys were young basketball players. One excelled. One didn't. Both played, learned, and enjoyed themselves during regular season.
When my one son was not played in a championship game they won, the coach, not I, apologized to him. My son's reply to the coach told me how much he had learned from him.
"We won because we're a good team. Today my being on the bench cheering them on was my part in doing the best for the team. We earned that trophy together."