Tulare wins section title for the first time since 1998 — and why Tribe coach is thrilled
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Tulare Union ends 28-year drought by winning Central Section Division III title.
- Senior Demaje Riley scores 25 to lead Tribe past Central Valley Christian 64-43.
- Coach Mark Hatton credits resilience through injuries and team unity for victory.
Tulare Union delivered a performance nearly three decades in the making.
The Tribe surged past Central Valley Christian, 64-43, on Saturday to capture the Central Section Division III championship, the program’s first section title since 1998.
From the opening tip, Tulare Union played like a team unwilling to let history slip away again.
Senior guard Demaje Riley led the charge with a game-high 25 points, slicing through the defense, knocking down key shots and setting the tone offensively.
But this victory, as head coach Mark Hatton made clear afterward, was about far more than one stat line.
“I think that was a teachable lesson for our kids,” Hatton said. “About luck, about faith. About 2 1/2, 3 weeks ago, we started getting injured. Everybody faces those things.”
The adversity was real.
Brayden Stevenson battled through injuries, often practicing sparingly and playing “on one leg,” according to Hatton.
Yet Tulare Union kept grinding, knocking off Selma and Kingsburg and then handling a talented CVC squad on the biggest stage.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am,” Hatton said. “They’re family. They’re kids. And they will be remembered for a very long time.”
Section historian Bob Barnett confirmed it had been since 1998 that Tulare Union last claimed a section crown. For a program that has endured its share of playoff heartbreak, the drought only made Saturday sweeter.
Hatton knows that feeling well.
He wasn’t on Tulare Union’s 1998 staff — he won a Valley title at Corcoran that same year and joined Tulare Union in the early 2000s — but he’s seen plenty of seasons end one game too soon.
“It’s tough,” Hatton said. “There’s only one team that’s going to finish the year without a loss. My heart goes out to anybody who loses a playoff game. But it’s survive and advance. That’s why people come to see this — because it’s extra special.”
He also reflected on what this senior class has meant to the program, especially Stevenson.
“I want to make this state run as long as I can,” Hatton admitted. “I don’t want to find out what it’s like to play without Brayden. He’s been my point guard for four years. We’ll have somebody play next year. But this is just special. It’s family.”
This story was originally published March 1, 2026 at 12:17 AM.
