The Centralia High School boys' basketball program is one of the most storied in the state, having reached the IHSA State Finals 24 times (the first coming in 1909), which has resulted in three state championships. That type of long-term success led the school to become the winningest high school program in the country, as it notched the program's 2,000 win during the 2007-08 season.

The Orphans eventually relinquished that mantle to Dobyns Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tennessee, but regained it on Mach 1, 2016 with a 67-35 win over Salem in the IHSA Regional Semfinal round.

Centralia's 2,198 wins are two better than Dobyns Bennett's (2,196), whose season is over with a 5-21 record this year.