South Bend Saint Joe is coming off a class 3a state championship from last season after beating the Crispus Attucks Tigers 56-52, in March 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. After winning the state title last year, the team moves up from class 3a and is now in 4a. This means that Saint Joe will play against bigger schools and better competition.
As the Huskies basketball team looks to replicate the success from last year, they must absorb the loss of key seniors to the team including Chase Konieczny, A.J. Boone, Luke Trinter, and Brashaun Woods. Chase had committed to play this upcoming season at FGCU (Florida Golf Coast University), and Brashaun had been the class 3a state championship game Mental Attitude Award winner.
Despite losing these seniors, the team and the coaching staff are staying optimistic and enthusiastic as they try to repeat as state champions. Coach Eric Gaff plans on building off of last year’s success, “We need to double down on last year and improve the process. We have to find ways to get better and to never drop our standard.” Gaff explained that in order to replicate last years success the team needs to improve and be more efficient from everywhere on and off the court. The Huskies basketball team has been putting in the work over the past couple months whether that would be in the morning or after school, and on the court or in the weight room, they have still been putting in the work to try to go back to back. However, the basketball program can’t be only centered around the varsity team, you have to build the program.
Coach Gaff is looking to grow the entire program, “First, it starts with the coaching. We try to improve ourself’s as coaches and as leaders, and then try to implement that into the workouts and practices,” Gaff explained that the team tries new drills to help the players improve their skills.
“We are working on making sure that our players have everything right. The time to shoot, the time to get stronger, and to help them get more flexibility.” Gaff talked about how he is trying to make sure that all of the small details are covered.
Every season the Saint Joe basketball team makes sure that there is a bible verse that can help the team not just on the court, but in the classroom and in everyday life. When Coach Gaff was asked about the quote of this upcoming season he said, “The team verse is Proverbs 16:3, Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” This bible verse can show that in basketball and in everyday life, you should always commit to the Lord, and you should always trust in him for he has made a path for you that can help you reach Heaven. God can help in many aspects of life and all you have to do is praise him and accept that he is God the almighty Father.
The Saint Joe basketball team is fresh off of 2 back to back state championship appearances and is trying to have a three peat. Even though they only won 1 of the last 2 state championship appearances they are still looking to improve. When Gaff was asked what was a word to describe the team for the up and coming season he said, “Growth.” He stated, “The team was good from last year, obviously we won a state championship, but I think that we will be tremendously better this year, and we will set our team apart from all of the other teams we have had here at Saint Joe.” Coach Gaff has high expectations this season and despite moving up to 4a, it doesn’t seem like it changes his motive of keeping his confidence.
Last year the Saint Joe Huskies basketball team had played the Marian Knights at Marian’s Demetrius Jackson court. After a stellar 3 quarters the game had gone down to a single play. The score was 54-54 with 10 seconds left. Coming out of a timeout by Saint Joe, Coach Gaff had called a play to run. The ball was in the hands of Elijah King with Chase Konieczny near by, the play was ran. Chase looked like he was going to screen Elijah but then he sealed off and the defender collapsed onto Elijah. King passed the ball to Chase and with 5 seconds left on the clock, Chase shot a three pointer. He buried it, and helped Saint Joe win the game. This year however, the Holy war game between Marian and Saint Joe will be at Saint Joe in the Alumni gym on February 13. When Coach Gaff was asked what does the game being at home mean he said, “Home court advantage is real. It is always easier to win at home when you have a crowd on your side, and it is always harder to win when the crowd is against you.”
Saint Joe’s upcoming basketball season will start on December 5th with an away game against Chesterton, and the first home game in the Alumni gym will be on December 9th against Marquette Catholic, both games will be at 7:30. Big expectations are in place for the upcoming season, and you will not want to miss out!
