SAN JOSE — The Archbishop Riordan slam-dunk show rolled into town Friday and put on the latest in a season-long series of commanding performances with an 83-36 blowout win at Valley Christian.
The Crusaders now have the opportunity to put the finishing touches on the most dominant season in West Catholic Athletic League history when they host second-place St. Ignatius Tuesday in a regular-season finale.
Riordan (22-1 overall) has won 13 WCAL games by a 37-point average margin of victory.in a league usually noted for lockdown defense and extreme competitiveness, while extending its winning streak in league play to 29 in a row.
Riordan’s Ryder Bush (5) dunks the ball against Valley Christian in the third quarter at Valley Christian in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Against third-place Valley Christian, Riordan jumped out to a 17-2 lead, was up 41-24 at halftime and went for the jugular in a 31-point third quarter, shooting 12 of 14 from the floor, aided greatly by four slam dunks — three by point guard Ryder Bush and one by Texas A&M-bound Jasir Rencher. Riordan had nine dunks in all.
Rencher scored a game-high 21 points and broke the 1,000 point barrier for his career, now with 1,014. Bush had 14 while Andrew Hilman and UC Irvine-commit Nes Emeneke scored 11 apiece. Bush and the 6-10 Emeneke both transferred to Riordan from Priory.
Riordan also went 14-0 in the WCAL last season, but saw its season end in a 49-44 loss to Salesian in the NorCal playoffs. What makes this team better equipped to go further? For all the offensive fireworks, the head coach and players all point to an improved defense. It was certainly on display Friday as Valley Christian committed 27 turnovers and was held scoreless in the fourth quarter when a running clock was in operation.
Riordan’s Jasir Rencher (4) dribbles the ball against Valley Christian’s Bryant Clark (4) in the first quarter at Valley Christian in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
“The commitment to really shutting down a team and caring about that more than scoring is the biggest difference,” Riordan coach Joe Curtin said. “Last year we had a great scoring team and a good defensive team. But the difference between being a good defensive team and a great one like this one is the ability to stay with it for four quarters.”
Winning so many games by blowout can’t be much of a help in preparation.
“Not the games but our practices for sure,” Rencher said. “The practices are definitely harder than the games. We have the best defense in the state of California in my opinion.”
Related Articles
With help of Steph Curry and other celebs, McClymonds opens new Bill Russell Gymnasium
Prep spotlight: How Valley Christian defied history to become one of WCAL’s top basketball teams
De La Salle clamps San Ramon Valley, advances to EBAL title game
Incredible! Josh Green scores 47 points to set Bishop O’Dowd record
League champs! Oakland Tech boys capture outright OAL title with a dominant victory over Oakland
Valley Christian coach Colin Pfaff is a believer.
“I expect to see them against Harvard-Westlake in the Open Division state championship,” Pfaff said. “With Riordan’s size, athleticism, physicality, how hard they play, they’re definitely the best team in Northern California, hands down. I’d be shocked if they lost to anyone in NorCal.”
Brayden Harris led Valley Christian (17-6, 8-5) with 18 points, half of his team’s total.
Riordan’s Jasir Rencher (4) takes a shot against Valley Christian’s Mihir Acharya (13) in the first quarter at Valley Christian in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Riordan’s Jasir Rencher (4) gets water near the end of a game against Valley Christian in the fourth quarter at Valley Christian in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Riordan’s Ryder Bush (5) dunks the ball against Valley Christian in the first quarter at Valley Christian in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Riordan’s John Tofi (13) takes a shot against Valley Christian’s John Armeniakos (0) and Valley Christian’s Brayden Harris (24) in the second quarter at Valley Christian in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Riordan’s Ryder Bush (5) takes a shot against Valley Christian in the second quarter at Valley Christian in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Riordan’s JP Pihtovs (21) takes a shot against Valley Christian’s Jayden Zhuge (5) in the second quarter at Valley Christian in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
