[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 38 (Thursday, March 6, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING CENTRALIA ORPHANS BASKETBALL TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 6, 2008

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the Centralia 
Orphans basketball team, which on Friday, February 15, 2008, became the 
first high school boys' basketball program in the State of Illinois--
and just the second in the nation--to record its 2,000th victory.
  The visiting Orphans defeated the arch-rival Mt. Vernon High School 
Rams 45-43 to reach the milestone.
  Current members of the Orphans include Evan Burmester, Adrian Dabney, 
Ben Kracht, Stile Smith, Carlton Westbrook, Keith Johnson, Justin Keef, 
Devan Wells, Brandon Buchanan, Myron Cunningham, R.J. Kwiatkowski, and 
Mark McConnaughy. Their head coach is Lee Bennett, who is assisted by 
Brad Goewey, Ryan Blaha, and Doug Jack.
  Since its beginning in 1906, the Centralia boys' basketball team has 
featured such standout players as future Olympic track star Dwight 
``Dike'' Eddleman, future Harlem Globetrotter Bobby Joe Mason, and 
future Los Angeles Laker Dickie Garrett. The Orphans have won three 
Illinois State championships, all under legendary High School Hall of 
Fame Coach Arthur L. Trout.
  I send congratulations to the players, coaches, students, alumni, and 
fans of Centralia High School on a remarkable achievement.

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