Saturday’s basketball game between Mishawaka High School and Northview High School was 100 years in the making.
On December 27, 1924, Mishawaka and Brazil High School – which later merged with surrounding schools to become Northview – went head to head in the first ever game held in the Cavemen’s gym. Mishawaka’s gym is Indiana’s oldest active high school gym, which is famously dubbed the Cave in honor of the school’s iconic mascot.
A centennial of heartfelt memories, epic competitions, and unforgettable moments have since been made inside the walls of the Cave. To celebrate the 100 year run, students, staff, and many proud alumni gathered on January 4 to celebrate with a match up between the very two teams that started it all many years ago.
“I think this is a cool experience for everybody that's involved – players, administration, fans – to try to recreate it,” Mishawaka High School Head Boys Basketball Coach Bodie Bender said. “Just taking in the whole experience is going to be a fun thing.”
Seeing the 100th anniversary inch closer on the calendar, Mishawaka thought it’d be an exciting opportunity to reach out to Northview and see if they would like to take part in the game. Northview immediately expressed interest but said they would unfortunately be unable to make the exact date due to a previously scheduled holiday tournament. However, despite scheduling conflicts, Northview was determined to make this game happen, albeit if it had to be just a few days past the actual anniversary mark.
“It just seemed like a fun opportunity for our kids to do something a little bit different,” Northview High School Head Boys Basketball Coach Shawn Neville said. “Sometimes the grind gets a little tough during the season, so this is a nice getaway.”
With the big day in play on the 4th, the Cave was a force to be reckoned with – past and present Cavemen proudly marched through their stomping grounds supporting their team, while the Northview Knights came in full force, armor and all, to defend their team with honor. The coaches and players were also in on the fun, with the former donning throwback coaching gear to pay homage to the early days of classic Hoosier basketball. T-shirts and other gear were also given away during the celebration so fans could have a souvenir of their own from this incredible moment in time.
1924 memorabilia provided by the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame additionally lined the halls to fully immerse everyone into the past and help everyone in attendance feel more of a connection to what life was like for the teams, coaches, and fans 100 years ago.
Pete DeKever, a Mishawaka alum, was among the crowd, excited to see such a historic matchup in play front and center. The Cave was a special place during their high school days, so to come back for the 100th year celebration and catch all the action on the court was an unbelievable experience.
“I'm very happy that all these people are here today celebrating the history of this building, the school and some of the great players who played here,” DeKever said. “It's just really exciting to see people valuing their history.”
After the dust had settled and the final basket was shot, Northview came out on top with a score of 56-47. It was exhilarating to see, especially since Brazil was the school to win back in 1924 when they defeated the Cavemen 33-15.
The game was just a small portion of Saturday’s celebrations, however. It’s a once in a lifetime event that a school reaches its centennial birthday, and to know that the Cave had a heartwarming party packed to the brim with people bringing it back to where it all began was what truly made it special for everyone involved.
“This is our city’s school,” DeKever said. “My siblings and I got a good education here, and even my dad got a good education here. There's a lot to be proud of when it comes to the impact this school has had on our community over the last 100 years.”
To learn more about how Mishawaka High School and the Cave are celebrating an impeccable 100 years of helping students achieve academic, athletic, and personal success across the Michiana area and beyond, please visit cavemensports.com or mhs.mishawakaschools.com.