ELKHART – The Northridge boys basketball program broke new ground Saturday night.

The Raiders earned their first-ever Class 4-A sectional title by holding off Elkhart Memorial 48-45 in the title tilt of the Elkhart Central Sectional at North Side Gym.

Northridge claimed its eighth sectional title overall and the first in eight years in Class 4-A. The Raiders last sectional crown came in 2004 in Class 3-A.

Northridge (14-9) advances to play South Bend Riley in the first game of the Michigan City Regional next Saturday. Riley stunned Penn 74-69 Saturday night to win the Penn Sectional title.

The Raiders hit key free throws down the stretch to top Northern Lakes Conference foe Memorial for the second time this season. Pete Smith gave Northridge the lead for good with two free throws with 36 seconds to play to make it 46-44. Tom Morrison then hit one with 7.4 seconds left and Christian Bach hit one for the final point after a missed shot by Memorial’s Dimitri Giger.

Memorial, which had lost 56-50 to Northridge in a conference game at North Side Gym back on Jan. 24, rallied from a 30-19 deficit in the third quarter.

The Raiders led 14-9 after the opening period Saturday night and 28-19 at halftime. Northridge was up just 36-35 entering the final quarter.

Morrison paced the champions with 15 points. Smith had 14 points and Collin Utley 13 for the Raiders.

Jon Bailey led Memorial, which finishes at 14-10, with 13 points. Giger scored 12 points and Cameron Maxwell 10.