1994 IHSAA State Championship: South Bend Clay 93, Valparaiso 88 (OT)

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(12-12-23) Thirty years ago in their first ever visit to the State Finals South Bend Clay won the 1994 IHSAA State Boys Basketball title coming back from 10 points down in the last minute and a half to beat Valparaiso in OT.

At the the end of this school South Bend Clay will close its doors for the last time. But this memory will be something that will not go away after this year.

The 1994 game…courtesy IHSAA

South Bend Clay, coached by Tom DeBaets, overcame a ten-point deficit in the final 1:36 of regulation time to capture the 84th Annual Indiana High School Athletic Association Boys Basketball State Finals Tournament 93-88 over Valparaiso in overtime.

The tournament was held at the Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, on March 26, 1994. Jaraan Cornell buried a three-point shot at the buzzer to force the overtime with the score deadlocked at 78-78. South Bend Clay never trailed in the overtime on the way to the miraculous 93-88 comeback.

The Colonials trailed 73-63 when Tim Bishop scored a bucket for the Vikings with 1:35 left in the game. Charles Bond hit from the baseline; Lee Nailon scored on a lay-in; and Jaraan Cornell hit a pair of free throws for the Colonials to make it 75-69. Bond hit another three-pointer, and Chad Hudnall followed with one of his own with 13.3 seconds left, which brought South Bend Clay within one at 76-75. Tim Bishop then scored two free throws for the Vikings. South Bend Clay then worked the ball up court and found Cornell open at the top of the key to send the contest into overtime.

The Colonials scored 15 points in the overtime as the Vikings could not answer the spectacular turnaround. Tim Bishop led all scorers with 35 points, and Bryce Drew knocked in 32 points for the Viking cause. Jaraan Cornell led the South Bend Clay team with 30 points and got help from teammates Charles Bond with 20, Lee Nailon with 16, and Chad Hudnall who finished with 14.

South Bend Clay earned its way to the final game by defeating New Albany 61-57 in the second afternoon game. Lee Nailon led the Colonials with 16 points. Jaraan Cornell and Chad Hudnall scored 15 and 12 points, respectively. LaDrell Whitehead scored 27 points for the Bulldogs and was the only player in double figures.

A total of 385 schools and 4,565 participants began competition at the sectional level.

Did you know…

Some other closed schools with a title…

  • Muncie Southside
  • South Bend Central
  • Harding
  • Michigan City Elston
  • Thorntown