On January 16, 2026, the Fightin’ Irish met the St. Ignatius Wildcats in the annual Bruce-Mahoney Basketball doubleheader at Chase Center. Sounds from the SHC band, student section, and dance team echoed within the walls of Ballhalla. The teams showed heart, strength, grit, and discipline versus two of the toughest opponents in the state.
The evening began with the Girls Basketball clash to decide this year’s Bruce-Mahoney Champions. Throughout the first quarter, the Irish kept it close, trailing 16-13. Notable efforts from Sofia Barrientos ‘28 and Lea Escobar ‘28 gave the team an early burst of confidence as they entered the second quarter. For the remainder of the game, the Wildcats gradually pulled away, maintaining the upper hand, and the Irish were unable to execute a defense plan to counteract the Wildcats’ relentless offense.
Following a 61-43 loss, a press conference was held, during which players Myra Lebus ‘26, Kamora Mabrey ‘26, and Lea Escobar ‘28 shared a few words. The girls expressed their gratitude for playing on the stage where the Golden State Valkyries competed in their inaugural WNBA season, which they believe is a step forward for women’s basketball.
Next up, SHC alum and Warriors hype man Franco Finn ‘95 set the stage for an energy-filled matchup. Elias Medios ‘26 and Jaden Hector ‘29 led the Irish Boys Basketball offense into a hot start against the Wildcats. Unable to maintain a lead, the SHC offense entered halftime losing by single digits.
Going into the third quarter, the Irish struggled to find a rhythm, going six minutes without a point. This struggle allowed the Wildcat offense to solidify its dominance. The Irish fought hard throughout the remainder of the game, displaying aggressive offensive strategies despite being outmatched in size and numbers.
Postgame thoughts from Coach Andrew Kochevar shed light on his plans for the program, giving the SHC community a future to look forward to. (Our last interview with Coach Kochevar:)
“We’re playing good basketball—not for the entire [game]—but we’ve got long stretches of good, high-quality, intense basketball. Eventually it’s gonna click for us, but we have to stay on course… …As the first-year head coach, I’m on the learning curve with these guys. I’m excited to grow with them personally.”
The Emerald would like to express gratitude to all members of the SHC Athletics Department, especially the athletes and coaches involved in this vibrant event, as we wish them the best of luck in the rest of their seasons.
