SELMA, Ind. — As recovery efforts continue from the tornado that struck Randolph and Delaware counties last week, the boys basketball team in Selma is on a quest for its first state basketball title.
What a five day stretch it has been for the Wapahani Raiders. Last Thursday night, a tornado ripped through Selma and Winchester, affecting many friends, family members and neighbors of the team.
It happened just as the team was gearing up for the IHSAA Class 2A semi-state.
Playing for something bigger than themselves, the Raiders won both games last week and are now focused on winning a state title, enjoying incredible support from a resilient community.
"Our community rallied around our people that were affected and our team. We had an incredible party, if you will, at 1 a.m. in downtown Selma, Indiana," head coach Matt Luce said. "Fireworks, people celebrating, cheering. It's the movie 'Hoosiers.' I mean it, we're just a small, little tiny school that, still though, the school is the center of our community, and basketball is a big deal, and we're glad to be able to keep playing."
It's a tough thing for teenagers to juggle, being there for the community while focusing on winning. This team, though, did it seamlessly. In fact, the day after punching their ticket to state, the team was right back in Selma and Winchester, assisting with storm cleanup.
"I feel like it's kind of just returning the favor," senior guard Isaac Andrews said. "I mean, they always come out and support us. So why not us go go out and support them when they need it? Our community is having a rough time, but for us just being like the hope for them, being the positivity, something they can cheer for in a rough time. I mean, that's what basketball in this community is about, just being there for people, something they can root for."
"There's neat kids all over the place and neat kids right here on our basketball team and our school," Luce said. "Our community is resilient, and this has been a really positive experience after a brutal storm."
"Small Town USA" is caring for one another. The ultimate pick-me-up would be winning the first state championship in program history.
"It's turning into a great story about a town that's came together and celebrated each other and helped each other, but also celebrated their basketball team and high school," Luce said. "We're gonna continue to enjoy it and start getting our plans together to try to find a way to beat Brownstown and win a state championship."
The Raiders will face Brownstown Central for the Class 2A state championship on Saturday, March 30 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse — a Hollywood story in the making.