Mishawaka planning 100-year anniversary game for 'The Cave' in early 2025
The oldest active high school gymnasium in Indiana turns 100 next year, and Mishawaka is throwing it a birthday party in style.
“The Cave,” home to the MHS basketball, wrestling and volleyball teams, will host a 100th anniversary celebration Jan. 4, 2025, against Northview High School. It’ll be 100 years and one week to the day that the Cavemen played their first game in the gym – Dec. 27, 1924 – against the same school they played in the first contest. Back then, it was Brazil High School, which consolidated into Northview in 1984.
The schools were hoping to play on the 27th, but Northview is playing in a holiday tournament that same day, hence why the anniversary game will take place a week later. Northview is located 20 miles east of Terre Haute.
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“There is nothing like basketball in Indiana,” Mishawaka athletic director Mark Polsgrove said in a statement. “We are honored to host what will be a great event next year and to honor the history of this great place – 100 years of basketball in ‘The Cave.’ We really appreciate (Northview athletic director Scott Buell) and his staff at Northview for making this happen.”
Mishawaka High School has hosted several major events in its 100 years, including the annual Al Smith wrestling invitational. They won six boys basketball sectionals on its home court from 1925-1939, six girls basketball sectional titles from 1983-1996 and several volleyball sectionals under hall of fame coach Steve Anderson.
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“As someone that gets to play all their home games in such a historic and unique place, it is special,” Mishawaka boys basketball coach Bodie Bender said in a statement. “It has the old-time Indiana high school basketball feel when you walk into the place. We talk all the time about Hoosiers and having that type of feeling and it definitely has that feel.”
Mishawaka will be looking for revenge against Northview, as Brazil triumphed in the first game, 33-15. Head coach S.S. Shake led the Cavemen to a 13-10 record that season, while Brazil finished with a 22-7 mark.
“We are very excited about this opportunity to play in ‘The Cave’ that has hosted games for 100 years,” Buell said. “I am amazed how far the team traveled to play a game in 1924. This experience will be something our current team will remember forever. I thank Athletic Director Mark Polsgrove and Mishawaka High School for the invitation to join them in this celebration of Indiana High School Basketball.”
More information about tickets, special uniforms the teams will be wearing, and other things related to the event will be released in the coming months.
“I am really excited to play a game against an opponent we do not usually see,” Northview head coach Shawn Nevill said. “Plus, the opportunity to play in ‘The Cave’ is something I think our kids will enjoy. This will be a very cool environment for our players, coaches, and fans.”
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Mishawaka planning 100-year anniversary game for "The Cave" in 2025
