Jan. 9 Michiana roundup: Penn, Saint Joseph's pick up key wins

The Jan. 9 slate delivered a busy night across the Michiana footprint, with clear winners and tight thrillers that will matter as conference play settles in. South Bend Saint Joseph's beat South Bend Riley 70-58 in a game that pushed the Indians up the local conversation, while Penn turned in two lopsided victories: a 65-38 win over Elkhart in boys action and a 53-45 victory over Elkhart in girls play. Those results stood out on scoreboards and in how they shift momentum through January.

Beyond those headline games, the region served up multiple overtime contests and standout single-game performances that will be dissected on coaching whiteboards this week. Mishawaka edged Plymouth 43-41 in a tight girls game, an example of late-game execution and defensive stands deciding outcomes. Tournament results from recent weeks also factored into changing local pecking order, with coaches and fans noting how early-season brackets and holiday tournaments continue to influence seeding talk and confidence.

The practical impact for coaches is immediate: teams that showed balanced scoring and defensive stops on Jan. 9 will gain leverage when preparing scouting reports for next matchups. For players, a clear win like Penn’s boys 65-38 game is a morale boost and a reminder that fundamentals and shot selection can produce blowouts when executed. For parents and fans, these results offer a snapshot of which meetups to prioritize watching in coming weeks as league races tighten and postseason positioning starts to take shape.

Stat lines and box scores from the night will tell the deeper story of who stepped up in crunch moments, which units need minutes adjustments, and which matchups could flip in rematches. Expect coaches to study film from the OT games and the close finishes, using those tapes to refine late-game rotations and situational play calls. Tournament outcomes that factored into rankings mean a few teams enter the next stretch with momentum; others will be looking to correct course rapidly.

The takeaway? Track the box scores, watch the film, and mark the next few head-to-heads on your calendar—January results like these often set the tone for the stretch run. Our two cents? Celebrate the solid wins, learn from the close losses, and keep an eye on the OT thrillers—those are the games that teach the most.