EAST CHICAGO | Supporters began lining the Indianapolis Boulevard parade route early on Sunday afternoon. They were hoping to catch a glimpse of the East Chicago Central High School boys basketball team, which was back in town after its Class 4A state finals victory Saturday over Indianapolis North Central.
No East Chicago school had won a state championship since the undefeated girls basketball team from now-gone Roosevelt High School took it all in 1979.
The dozens of fans at Columbus Drive swelled to hundreds as the dancers, marching band and motorcade approached City Hall, and more than a thousand Cardinals faithful packed Veterans Park for a tribute to the city's new heroes.
"How sweet it is," said Central Principal Darnell Adell, who played on the 1971 state champion boys basketball team from now-gone Washington High School.
Adell praised the fans who traveled downstate to witness the Cardinals' 87-83 win for representing their school and community enthusiastically and responsibly.
"You were the greatest cheering block in Indianapolis," Adell said, "and we're going downstate again next year."
Adell's Washington championship teammate Pete Trgovich, now Central's head boys basketball coach, thanked residents for their support.
"I didn't score one point this year," Trgovich said. "I didn't get any rebounds, or make any assists -- and my 1971 teammates would say the same thing about the assists."
Hundreds of camera phones were raised in the air as the 2007 state champions were introduced, and cheers echoed through the park for senior guard E'Twaun Moore, who led all players with 28 points in Saturday night's win, earning tournament MVP honors and the Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award.
"A lot of people doubted us," said Moore, who will attend Purdue University in the fall. "But we brought it home."
Mayor George Pabey thanked the team for giving East Chicago "one of its best years in a long time.
"You did not only win, but you united this city," Pabey said. "You've brought back sports pride to the community."
The Cardinals' victory marked the sixth state high school basketball championship won by an East Chicago school -- the most for any region community.
