HR1242 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1242 LRB099 21834 MST 48651 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the Centralia High School boys basketball team, the Orphans, on regaining the prestigious distinction as the winningest basketball program in the country; and

WHEREAS, The Centralia High School boys basketball program is one of the most storied basketball programs in the nation; and

WHEREAS, The Orphans have reached the finals in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Basketball Tournament 24 times since 1909, and have won three State championships; and

WHEREAS, The Orphans long-term success led the team to becoming the winningest high school program in the country when they won their 2000th game during the 2007-08 season; and

WHEREAS, The Orphans relinquished their crown for a brief time to Dobyns Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tennessee; and

WHEREAS, On March 1, 2016, with a 67-35 win over Salem in the IHSA Regional Semifinal, the Orphans reached a historical 2,197 accumulative wins, surpassing Dobyns Bennett's 2,196; and

WHEREAS, The hard-working members of the Orphans are D'Aaron Owens, Gavin Cass, Lundyn Waithe, Ja'Chai Webster, Tre'von McClain, Johnathan Keeler, Deven Toennies, Jordan Maines, Dawson Berry, Tyriq Billberry, Javon Williams Jr., Jared Glenn, Bryan Meskil, Peyton Long, and Sirlando Calcutt; and

WHEREAS, The Orphans are coached by Head Coach Lee Bennett and Assistant Coaches, Brad Goewey, Doug Jack, Tommy Baro, and Cole Schrage; and Student Managers, Mitchel Pierce and Jordan Branon; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the coaches and members of the Centralia High School boys basketball team, the Orphans, for their hard work and dedication which led to becoming (again) the winningest basketball program in the country, and we wish them many more years of success; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Orphans as an expression of our esteem and respect.