Wapahani boy’s basketball semi-state victory rallies Selma after tornado devastation
SELMA — Legends are made in March, and the Wapahani Raiders were well on their way to a storybook season.
The Raiders of Selma Indiana are made up of a group of athletes who have played together since they were in kindergarten and first grade. They took Class 2A by storm, winning the school’s first-ever IHSAA regional game in Lapel, excited for the opportunity to continue making history.
With two semi-state matchups awaiting them on Saturday, March 16, head coach Matt Luce prepared his team the way he always did. They had a great week of practice, and after their final session on Thursday, the Raiders gathered for a team dinner. Everything was business as usual until a tornado devastated the Selma community that night.
“Some of our assistant coaches were still at the dinner,” said Luce. “You never think it’s going to happen to you until you do. It makes you hug your loved ones a little tighter.”
There was no school on Friday, giving the team extra time to regroup and check in with one another before driving west to Lafayette Jeff.
“We knew our community was safe,” said Luce. “We knew they would come together, just like our team.”
The Raiders rallied for a 60-49 overtime win to defeat Blackhawk Christian in the semi-state final Saturday night, punching their ticket to the school’s first-ever state championship game.
As the bus pulled back into Selma after a school bus ride across the state, they were greeted the way they always were after big wins – with signs, fireworks, and applause. In the early hours of Sunday morning, the team felt extra love in the air for a victory that rallied their community.
“It was amazing,” said senior Isaac Andrews. “It goes to show how strong our community is and how together we are and how everyone cares a lot about each other.”
No matter how emotional it was that night, no one on the roster was surprised.
“There is something special still about Indiana high school basketball,” said Luce. “To celebrate a team, a homegrown basketball team in the middle of town that went through something devastating was overwhelming, but really special.”
Wapahani will play for the Class 2A title at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on March 30 against Brownstown Central. Win or lose, their historic run will continue to be celebrated for years to come.
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