2003 Final Four Boys Basketball Team

The 2003 Royals Boys Basketball team is the most successful state tournament basketball team in school history.  The team was an experienced group with 6 seniors, two of whom were 4-year starters.  The team came into the season with high expectations, following a 16-7 record and sectional championship game appearance in 2002.  They lived up to those expectations, compiling a 15-5 regular season record while winning the Holiday Tourney and earning a share of the White River Athletic Conference championship.  They then went on a tournament run that resulted in a sectional and regional championship.  Wins over North Decatur, Batesville, and Knightstown earned the sectional championship, followed by wins over Scecina and Covington for the first regional championship in school history.  The season ended with a close loss to Forest Park in the Southport Semi-State.  This high scoring team finished with a 20-6 record, which is tied for the second most wins in school history.  They put together this record by outscoring their opponents by an average of 12.3 points per game.  They scored more than 70 points 15 times, topped 80 points 6 times, and reached 90 points or more 3 times.  The team put together three 5 game winning streaks and never lost consecutive games at any time during the season.  The 2003 Royals remain the only regional champion and Final Four team in Eastern Hancock Boys Basketball history.