Riordan High postpones basketball games over small tuberculosis outbreak

Three people connected to the school have active cases of TB, leading to postponement of games against Sacred Heart Cathedral and cancellation of a matchup with San Ramon Valley.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 9:31pm by Ben Kaplan

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Amid a small tuberculosis outbreak at Riordan High School in San Francisco, two West Catholic Athletic League basketball games scheduled for Thursday and a nonleague girls game on Saturday have been either postponed or canceled. Riordan reported that three people connected to the school had active cases of tuberculosis, leading to the postponement of the boys and girls games against Sacred Heart Cathedral. Additionally, a nonleague girls game between second-ranked San Ramon Valley-Danville and No. 8 Riordan set for Saturday was canceled and will not be rescheduled.

Why it matters

Tuberculosis outbreaks in schools can pose a serious public health concern, requiring prompt action to contain the spread of the disease and protect the health and safety of students, staff, and the broader community. The decision to postpone and cancel games reflects the school's efforts to prioritize the wellbeing of its students and the larger community.

The details

According to Riordan boys coach Joey Curtin, the Thursday games against Sacred Heart Cathedral were postponed due to concerns from the parents of the Sacred Heart Cathedral team, despite there being no restrictions preventing Riordan's players and staff from participating. Additionally, a nonleague girls game between second-ranked San Ramon Valley-Danville and No. 8 Riordan scheduled for Saturday was canceled, with both administrations agreeing to the decision.

  • On Thursday, January 30, 2026, the Sacred Heart Cathedral boys at Riordan and the Riordan girls at Sacred Heart Cathedral games were postponed.
  • On Saturday, January 31, 2026, the nonleague girls game between second-ranked San Ramon Valley-Danville and No. 8 Riordan was canceled and will not be rescheduled.

The players

Joey Curtin

The Riordan boys basketball coach.

John Cristiano

The San Ramon Valley girls basketball coach.

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What they’re saying

“There was nothing preventing our players and staff to play the (Thursday) games. From my understanding, the concerns came from the parents of the (Sacred Heart Cathedral) team.”

— Joey Curtin, Riordan boys basketball coach (sfchronicle.com)

“I was told both administrations agreed on that decision.”

— John Cristiano, San Ramon Valley girls basketball coach (sfchronicle.com)

What’s next

Discussions for makeup dates for the postponed games between Riordan and Sacred Heart Cathedral will take place on Friday, January 31, 2026.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the importance of proactive measures to address infectious disease outbreaks in schools, prioritizing the health and safety of students, staff, and the broader community. The postponement and cancellation of games reflect the school's responsible approach to managing the tuberculosis cases and mitigating potential risks.