The Wildcat Sports Report is your weekly roundup of the biggest moments in SI athletics. From thrilling victories to program milestones and community highlights, we bring you the stories that showcase the spirit of our Wildcats.
Men's Basketball Advances to CCS Open Division Championship
The Varsity Men's Basketball team is set for another highly anticipated showdown against Archbishop Riordan, with the CCS Open Division Championship on the line.
The Wildcats and Riordan have already delivered two of the most memorable high school basketball games San Francisco has seen in recent years. On January 27, SI fell to Riordan in a 53–51 buzzer-beater thriller. The rematch on February 17 was just as dramatic, with the Wildcats battling into double overtime before coming up short, 100–95, while down two starters.
Now facing the added challenge of being without three key starters, the Wildcats have responded with resilience, earning a 65–56 victory over Archbishop Mitty to advance to the CCS Open Division Championship.
The teams will meet for the third time this season on Friday night.
The matchup features two of the top teams in California, with Riordan ranked No. 2 and St. Ignatius ranked No. 4 in the state according to MaxPreps. Tip-off is set for Friday, February 27 at 8:00 p.m. at USF.
With a championship on the line, this is a game you will not want to miss.
Tickets can be purchased on the SI GoFan Ticket Account and CCS GoFan Ticket Account starting on 2/26 at 3:30pm
San Francisco Chronicle feature.
Tickets will be available here.
SI Men's Lacrosse Heads to Los Angeles for Elite West Coast Showdown
On Friday, February 27, SI Men's Lacrosse will travel south to face Loyola High School in a highly anticipated early preseason showdown between two of the top programs on the West Coast. The non-league matchup brings together two Jesuit schools in what has quickly become one of the marquee matchups this Spring.
Last season, Loyola defeated St. Ignatius 14–11 on March 13, 2025, securing a statement home win against the then top-ranked Wildcats. This year's rematch carries even more buzz, as both programs enter the season with championship aspirations. But the weekend won't stop there.
On Saturday, February 28, the Wildcats will remain in Los Angeles to take on powerhouse Torrey Pines High School in another elite West Coast battle hosted at Loyola. Facing two premier programs in back-to-back days will provide an early-season measuring stick and an opportunity for SI to compete against some of the strongest competition in California.
Adding another layer of excitement, St. Ignatius recently signed a new partnership with Nike that has elevated the athletic department across the board — upgraded uniforms, enhanced branding around campus, and exclusive team-issued Nike products.
In anticipation of this weekend, Nike has provided the SI Men's Varsity Lacrosse team with its newest innovation: neuroscience-based footwear designed to help athletes lock in mentally before and after competition.
The Nike Mind 001 and Mind 002 mark the debut of Nike's Mind platform: a technology more than a decade in the making. Developed by Nike's Mind Science Department, the footwear is scientifically engineered to activate key sensory receptors in the feet through 22 independent foam nodes that respond to movement. This underfoot stimulation enhances sensory awareness, helping athletes ground themselves, reduce distractions, and heighten focus.
"Nike Mind is a new sensory-footwear concept that helps reawaken the foot, the body and the mind," said Eric Avar, VP and Creative Director of Innovation at Nike. "It represents a new paradigm of performance."
As the Wildcats prepare for a demanding two-game stretch in Los Angeles, they will not only be fueled by last year's loss and the pride of Jesuit competition — but also equipped with cutting-edge innovation designed to sharpen their mental edge. LA — here we come!
And that's a wrap for the Wildcat Sports Report – Go 'Cats!
