Head coach Ben Smith said things “clicked” for his senior-laden St. James High School boys’ basketball team in 2025-26.

The result was one of the special seasons in program history.

A dominating defensive effort down the stretch led the Tigers to a 21-8 overall record, a 5-2 second-place Four Rivers Conference finish and the Class 4 District 3 Tournament championship. That run ended with a loss to Clayton in sectional competition.

It is the first STJ boys’ basketball district championship since 2019. St. James has been to the district championship game five times in the last nine seasons. Smith has won four district titles as coach of his alma mater as well as two state quarterfinal berths.

And leading the charge was a veteran senior group that included guards Aiden Boone, Tate Gruver, Nick Gleason, Johnny Perkins and Gaige Martin and forward JV Meurer. Senior Cooper Schacht was injured this season.

“I thought these guys really came together as a team,” Smith said. “We thought we were good enough to win the district and make a deep playoff run. But give credit to Clayton; they are very good.”

The combination of seniors blossoming into their full potential, an exciting sophomore point guard and big help off the bench from the Spurgeon boys led the way for the Tigers.

“You could see it when they were young,” Coach Smith said of his seniors. “The biggest thing for us was them coming together consistently to figure out what it took on offense and defensively use their athleticism. This summer you could really see it kind of click.”

For the Tiger starting five, Gruver averaged 16.3 points, 2.2 assists, 2.1 steals and 3.7 rebounds with 64 made three-pointers while Boone averaged 11.0 points, 31 assists, 1.9 steals 3.5 rebounds and shot 56% from the field; Gleason 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals and shot 56% from the field; Meurer 3.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and shot 55% from the field, and sophomore point guard Isaac Smith 10.4 points, 5.8 assists 3.9 steals, 2.3 rebounds and made 37 three-pointers. Off the bench junior forward Jaxen Spurgeon averaged 4.2 points, 37 rebounds and shot 51% from the field, and junior guard Owen Spurgeon 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals.

Gruver and Smith were named to the All-FRC First Team while Boone and Gleason was selected to the second team.

The Tigers dished off the most assists (460) in program history. Gruver set the program’s career scoring record (recorded through 1978) with 1,345 points while also finishing in a tie for the most games played in this century (109). He also finished fourth in career steals (178) and fifth in career three-pointers made (160).

Isaac Smith set the single-season school marks for steals (112) and assists (166). Both totals ranked in the top-five among St. Louis-area players this season. He also set single-game school records for steals (10 against Sullivan) and assists (14 against Newburg). As a point guard he had just 69 turnovers during the season.

Boone is sixth in career steals (168) and eighth in assists (223), and Meurer is ninth in career rebounds this century (355).

“I thought they complemented each other,” Ben Smith said. “Gruver’s ability to shoot opened things up for Boone and Nick. Nick was so strong driving to the basket, and Aiden is so quick. And Isaac’s ability to facilitate unlocked some things for them. I thought they did a really good job of controlling what they did offensively. Defensively, Boone just embraced the ‘I’m going to be a stopper,’ and took their best player out. I’m so happy for him winning conference defensive player of the year.
“Inside JV and Jaxen worked well together. JV could bang around inside and Jaxen was more of a stretch-four player. Both rebounded well for us.”

Certainly the outgoing seniors’ experience and splendid athletic ability will be sorely missed. But the Tigers will have a strong foundation to build on next season.

I. Smith, O. Spurgeon and J. Spurgeon will provide the varsity leadership for a new-look Tiger attack in 2026-27.

“It’ll look different,” Coach Smith said. “But I’m really excited about our junior varsity; we had a lot of kids who were good enough to play at the varsity level this season; we just had so many varsity kids.
“Owen and Jaxen will be instrumental. (Juniors) Westin Ridenhour, Tripp Jones and Karsten Driskell really improved. And we’ll get to see some sophomores and a couple of freshmen be able to contribute. Isaac will have to take on a different role; he’ll have to score more. He’s accustomed to having to score, but he’ll have some guys around him. We’ll be deep.”