BOYS BASKETBALL SECTIONAL ChampionshipSouth Bend Saint Joseph vs. South Bend Riley 2026

The Cave at Mishawaka High School was the location of the Sectional Championship battle between South Bend Riley and South Bend St Joseph. The game best described as a tale of twos. A yin and yang, two sides of a coin, and two of the best teams in the area. The game was also a tale of two halves, two great head coaches, two scrappy teams. One with the pedigree of a champion, and one with the hunger and aspirations of filling up their own trophy case.

The Riley Wildcats put it all out on the line early on with swarming defense and timely threes to lead the Huskies at halftime. St Joseph coach Eric Gaff, kept the team in a bit longer before coming out at the half. After the game, when asked what was discussed, Nick Shrewsberry said “He asked us, Do you want to have another practice? Another game? You lose that, you’re done.”

They certainly responded. The Huskies used a similar strategy to the one that frustrated them in the first half. Timely threes and aggression on defense. They clawed their way back to tie the game up at the end of regulation after being down 4 with 35 seconds to go. Riley struggled with only two points in overtime to fall 62-53 to the defending state champions. Nick Shrewsberry said “We fought for 16 minutes. We are a close group and love each other.” On to the second step in the playoffs, the Regional championship.

Dakori Parker (14pts) and Tree Johnson (12) led the scoring for Riley and Elijah King (12 pts) and Peyton Miamba (17) led St Joseph.