(Blake Wesley led Riley to the win. Photo via NCAA Academy)

 

South Bend Riley entered the Michigan City regional as an underdog, but that is nothing new as the Wildcats surprised the state as they beat South Bend Adams in the championship game, 47-43. Valparaiso had close calls with Chesterton and Portage to advance to Michigan City.

 

Saturday morning, Riley played another low-scoring game, and Valpo could not slip by this time. The Wildcats won 44-36.

 

On the opening possession, Valpo worked more than a minute off the lock. That was a sign of things to come as the Vikings tried to control the tempo. Valpo scored the first four points of the game before Notre Dame signee Blake Wesley made a free throw for Riley.

 

The end of the first quarter saw an avalanche of scoring that would not be seen the rest of the way. Isaiah Robinson gave Riley a boost off the bench as he scored five points at the end of the period. Robinson and Wesley scored ten of the 12 first-quarter Riley points.

 

Valpo reserve Michael Flynn started the second period with a three-pointer before Riley locked down. The Wildcats scored the next seven capped by a thunderous dunk from Wesley plus the foul. To end the half, Wesley probed the defense before finding Phillip Robles for a corner three.

 

Riley held Valpo to four points in the period and led 22-15 at the break.

 

To begin the second half, Jackson Copley scored the first five for Riley. That extended the Wildcat lead to 27-18 as Colton Jones made a three for Valpo.

 

At the 5:12 mark, a major scare for Riley happened. After Copley scored, Wesley went down in traffic. He held his leg for a minute before exiting the game.

 

With Wesley out, Valpo wasted no time taking advantage of the short-handed Wildcats. Flynn and Jones scored to cut Riley’s lead to 27-23. Copley scored for Riley to stop the run, but Breece Walls immediately converted two free throws on the other end.

 

Riley was clinging to a four-point lead when Wesley jogged out of the locker room. He checked in instantly, but Valpo kept its momentum. Clay MacLagan scored the next four points to tie the game at 29.

 

Both teams missed shots to end the third, and the game went to the fourth tied.

 

Following scores from each team, Blake Wesley found an opening for his easiest basket of the game. After the teams traded empty possessions, Wesley found Robles for another triple. That gave Riley a five-point lead.

 

Valpo kept clawing. Cooper Jones scored inside then Colton Jones made one of two free throws to make it a two-point game.

 

With under a minute to play, Valpo sent Wesley to the line. He made both free throws. Walls raced the ball back at Wesley for a paint score. Riley’s lead was 38-36 with 49 seconds left. Riley answered with a Copley bucket then two Robles free throws.

 

After another missed three from Valpo, Wesley went back to the line. It looked like he would ice the game, and he did but unconventionally. He missed the front end of the bonus, but the rest of the players thought he was shooting two. Wesley grabbed the miss and put it back.

 

Riley won 44-36.

 

Wesley finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Robles added 12 points; Copley scored nine, and Isaiah Robinson finished with seven.

 

Colton Jones’s seven points led Valpo. Flynn tallied six, and Cooper Jones recorded five points and eight rebounds. Walls, Mason Jones, Grant Comstock, and Clay MacLagan each scored four points.

 

Riley will play the winner of Gary West Side and Elkhart later tonight.