Riley double OT win caps wild regional day
(South Bend) — In the summer, Tyrese Jones moved schools, going from shuttered Clay on the north side to Riley on the south side.
Then Saturday, he made his name known in a gym on the city’s west side.
Jones tallied a career-high 45 with nine rebounds, carrying Riley to a 77-71 double-overtime win over Warsaw in the Class 4A Regional at Washington’s Great Western Forum.
Watch a Replay of Riley’s Double Overtime Win over Warsaw Here.
After turning the ball over in the final minute of double overtime, Jones stripped the ball from Warsaw’s Robbie Finlinson and canned a layup that put Riley up 73-69 with 35 seconds remaining. Jaylen Barbera converted a layup and Jones buried two more free throws to account for the final score.
The game featured all kinds of drama, as Warsaw’s leading scorer Brandt Martin (20 points) fouled out with 2:38 to play in regulation. The gritty Tigers continued to battle, taking a 56-54 lead on Carson Gould’s three with 7.8 seconds left. Marvin Schindler brought the ball the length of the court, hitting a layup while fouled with 2.1 seconds remaining, tying the game at 56. Schindler missed the ensuing free throw, sending the game to overtime.
In the first overtime, Finlinson’s three from the left corner with 10.7 seconds remaining, tied the game at 64. Schindler’s three-point attempt misfired and set the stage for the second overtime.
The regional title is the first for 22-4 Riley since 2018. Warsaw closes the year at 25-5.
St. Joseph (3A), Jimtown (2A) and Triton (1A) all claimed regional titles Saturday as well.
St. Joseph downed Columbia City, 50-46, winning back-to-back regional crowns for the first time since 1992-93. For the second straight Saturday, sophomore Elijah King scored the go-ahead points, hitting a left-hand layup with 56 seconds left. King scored 13, while senior Chase Konieczny added 12 to pace the Huskies.
Watch a Replay of Saint Joseph’s win over Columbia City Here.
In the 2A regional at Triton, Jimtown pulled what many considered an upset, knocking off NECC champion Westview, 56-40. The regional championship is Jimtown’s first in 21 years, dating back to when current Jimmie coach Tyler Leighton was a player.
Branden King continue his amazing tournament run, scoring 14 points with nine rebounds and eight assists, while Dylan Fey added 12 points. Jimtown bolted to a 19-6 lead after one and led by as many as 20 points in the second quarter. Austin Schlabach tallied 18 to bring Westview back within three in the third, before the Jimmies pulled away again.
Also at Triton, the host Trojans dominated Lakewood Park, 63-40, winning their 5th regional crown under head coach Jason Groves. Gage Riffle buried three 3’s and scored 13 points to lead Triton, while freshman Brayden Wood added 12 points and Julian Swanson tallying 11.
Semistate locations and opponents will be determined Sunday with a draw at IHSAA headquarters. The show airs at 3 p.m. online at ihsaatv.org.
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