The Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco, CA) varsity basketball team will host De La Salle (Concord, CA) in a home playoff game today at 7:00 PM. This matchup is part of the 2025 CIF State Boys Basketball Championships – Open Division tournament.

The 2024-25 boys varsity basketball season has been nothing short of spectacular, with De La Salle and Archbishop Riordan emerging as two of California’s most dominant forces on the hardwood. Both teams have carved impressive paths to the top, boasting outstanding records and state-wide recognition — but how do they truly stack up against each other?

Team Performance & Rankings

• Archbishop Riordan holds a stellar overall record of 28-1, with a perfect 14-0 league record, earning them a No. 25 national ranking, No. 3 in California, and the top spot in their section and state division.
• De La Salle, not far behind, stands at 28-4 overall, with an 8-2 league mark, earning a No. 50 national ranking, No. 9 in California, and first in their section division.

Scoring Breakdown & Game Dynamics

A look at team scoring averages reveals contrasting offensive strategies:

• Archbishop Riordan dominates offensively, averaging 70.6 points per game, with strong first-half scoring (Q1: 18.3, Q2: 19.5).
• De La Salle averages 61.5 points per game, leaning on a more balanced scoring distribution, peaking in the fourth quarter (Q4: 16.7).

Defensively, both teams shine. De La Salle has allowed 1,358 points across 32 games (42.4 PPG allowed), while Archbishop Riordan has been even more stifling, allowing just 1,186 points in 29 games (40.9 PPG allowed).

Common Opponents: A Comparative Glance

Both teams have gone undefeated against mutual competition, but the margin of victory heavily favors Archbishop Riordan, who consistently posted blowout wins:

• Vs. Junipero Serra

  • De La Salle: 48-36
  • Riordan: 73-35, 68-40

• Vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep

  • De La Salle: 79-39
  • Riordan: 75-26, 91-33

• Vs. San Ramon Valley

  • De La Salle: 51-45, 60-51
  • Riordan: 74-50

• Vs. Salesian College Prep

  • De La Salle: 59-42
  • Riordan: 52-51, 64-57

While both teams handled these opponents, Riordan’s high-octane offense and suffocating defense resulted in wider margins of victory.

Home & Away Performance

• De La Salle has thrived at home (20-2) but has been more vulnerable on the road (5-2).
• Archbishop Riordan remains perfect both at home (14-0) and away (7-0), showcasing versatility and resilience in any environment.

Playoff Form & Championship Aspirations

Both teams have proven their postseason mettle:

• De La Salle: 4-0 in playoff contests
• Archbishop Riordan: 5-0 in playoff play

Riordan’s additional game experience and continued dominance in pressure situations highlight their championship-caliber consistency.

Head-to-Head Preview?

Despite both programs reaching the pinnacle of their divisions, they’ve yet to meet on the court this season — a highly anticipated matchup that fans across the state are hoping to see deep in the playoff or championship rounds.

Final Thoughts

De La Salle and Archbishop Riordan represent two different styles — the former, a steady, disciplined squad with a late-game push; the latter, a dynamic powerhouse that starts fast and overwhelms early. With both teams poised for deep postseason runs, a head-to-head showdown could be inevitable — and it might just determine who truly reigns supreme in California high school basketball.