Decatur Central Wins First Regional Title in Program History, Tops Lawrence Central 73-60

Before the buzzer even sounded at Southport Fieldhouse on Saturday night, the Decatur Central faithful were already on their feet. Moments later, coach Bryan Surber climbed the ladder and cut his piece of the net, capping a 73-60 victory over Lawrence Central that gave the Hawks the IHSAA Class 4A regional championship — the first regional title in program history.

The win arrived one week after Decatur Central claimed its first sectional championship in 21 years, a run through the south side sectional that included a victory over Southport. That sectional title marked the Hawks' first regional appearance in 21 years, and they made the most of it by going all the way.

The victory also pushed Decatur Central's season record to 19 wins, setting a school record for wins in a season that had stood for 62 years. Both Decatur Central and Lawrence Central had reached the regional as upset winners, which made Saturday night's final all the more striking.

Senior Elyas Zapata captured the feeling in the locker room afterward. "It feels amazing," Zapata said. "We came in here wanting to win and we did it. We came together as a team and when everything came down to a struggle, we stuck together as a team. It's amazing."

The Hawks did it without overwhelming size. "They're a little undersized, but man, they shot the heck out of it from the three-point range. They're fun to watch," said Rakestraw in a postgame assessment on Wishtv. Three-point shooting gave Decatur Central the spacing and firepower to control a game that, based on pure roster ratings, they were not supposed to win.

The semistate looms as a steeper challenge. Rankings suggest more talented programs will stand in the Hawks' path next week, and IndyStar noted the underdog label may follow Decatur Central into that round. Still, the belief inside the program is unwavering. "I think we're going to win it," said Sigmund. "I think we're going to win next week, too."

For a program that had not appeared in a regional for two decades, reaching the semistate already rewrites the record books. Whether the Hawks can extend the run, they have already changed what Decatur Central basketball looks like.