South Bend Riley beats Adams in NIC boys basketball

Late Clay legend Jaraan Cornell honored during the game

Feb. 11, 2026 at 3:47am

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South Bend Riley defeated Adams 87-67 in a boys basketball game, thanks to strong performances from Tyrese Jones and Da'Kori Parker who each scored over 20 points. The game also featured a tribute to late Clay High School basketball legend Jaraan Cornell, whose famous buzzer-beating 3-pointer 32 years ago is remembered for bringing the divided community of South Bend together.

Why it matters

Jaraan Cornell's iconic shot in 1994 is seen as a pivotal moment that helped unite the community of South Bend during a turbulent time marked by violence, gang activity, and division. Honoring his legacy at this game highlights the lasting impact of that moment and the power of sports to bring people together.

The details

In the 1994 game, Jaraan Cornell hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that gave Clay High School the victory over rival Adams High School. Shawn Henderson, who was there that night, recalled how Cornell's shot bonded the divided community of South Bend, which was dealing with a lot of violence and gang activity at the time. At the recent Riley vs Adams game, the schools paid tribute to Cornell's legacy and the way his iconic shot helped heal the community.

  • The 1994 game between Clay High School and Adams High School took place 32 years ago.
  • The recent Riley vs Adams game where Cornell was honored was played on February 11, 2026.

The players

Jaraan Cornell

A basketball legend from Clay High School in South Bend, Indiana, whose buzzer-beating 3-pointer in 1994 is remembered for bringing the divided community together during a turbulent time.

Tyrese Jones

A player for South Bend Riley who scored over 20 points in the recent game against Adams.

Da'Kori Parker

A player for South Bend Riley who also scored over 20 points in the recent game against Adams.

Shawn Henderson

A South Bend resident who was present at the 1994 game when Jaraan Cornell hit the iconic buzzer-beater.

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What they’re saying

“South Bend was very divided in the '90s. There was a lot of violence, a lot of murders, a lot of gang activity. When he hit that shot, it bonded South Bend together.”

— Shawn Henderson, South Bend resident

The takeaway

Jaraan Cornell's legendary buzzer-beater in 1994 is remembered as a unifying moment for the divided community of South Bend, Indiana, during a turbulent time. Honoring his legacy at the recent Riley vs Adams game highlights the power of sports to bring people together and heal communities.