SELMA, Ind — Wapahani boys’ basketball ended its season as the state runner-up in the IHSAA Class 2A State Finals game last year. The team graduated four seniors including the school’s and Delaware County’s all-time leading scorer Isaac Andrews.

Going into this season, the Raiders wanted to show they were still a team to be feared though graduating Andrews and the others. Junior Camden Bell believed he could be the leader on that mission.

“I hope I can be the first Camden Bell,” Bell said. “Isaac was a great player and I hope people can look at me as good as he was.”

In last night’s 2024-25 Delaware County boys’ basketball season opener, Wapahani hosted Muncie Central. Bell led the Raiders with 18 points as the red and white defeated the Bearacts 51-27.

“To find a way to win in front of a great high school basketball crowd and in a great opener, it’s just fun,” Wapahani head coach Matt Luce said. “

The first quarter was all Wapahani as they jumped out to a 10-0 lead. To Muncie Central head coach Justin Ullom, the game plan he gave the Bearcats was forgotten as soon as his team stepped on the court. After the Raiders did not allow the purple and white to score in the first quarter (18-0), Ullom knew his team was in trouble.

“We got punched and we didn’t respond,” he said. “We got enough older guys with experience that we have to figure that out.”

The Raiders never took their foot off the gas pedal in the second quarter, going into halftime with a xx-xx lead. But in the second half, Luce thought his team made some errors from forced situations. But with it being a new team, it’s something he expected to see early in the season.

“We’re a new team with new leaders,” he said. “...Our effort and enthusiasm and just the way we competed, how can you not be proud of that?”

After finding more rhythm in the fourth quarter, the Raiders held on as they took their first game of the season. But some of the Wapahaini roster finished the game in different uniforms and numbers as blood dripped from a player’s cut on their hand. This caused multiple pauses in play and forced the Raiders’ bench to be ready with different uniforms.

“I thought we were becoming a different team,” Bell said.

While Bell led the Raiders in points, Nate followed right behind with 14 and knocked down four 3-pointers. To him, the combination of the returning group will be something to watch out for throughout the year.

“Us two and [junior] Eli Andrews and [senior] Brock Zickgraf,” Nate said. “Those two are also huge contributors and hit some big shots.”

Senior LJ Strange led Muncie Central with 11 points. Going forward, Ullom wants his team to regroup and stick to the team’s game plan going forward.

“We want to be the aggressor,” Ullom said. “But we have to be solid in the half court… We have to take a punch and return one.”

Wapahani will next host Pendleton Heights Saturday, Nov. 30. The game will start at 7:30 p.m. The Bearcats will face Guerin Catholic tonight at home. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Contact Zach Carter at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or on X @ZachCarter85.

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