The St. Vincent Indians’ 2025-2026 boys basketball season will be remembered as one of the most successful campaigns in recent program history.
St. Vincent finished the year with a 22-7 record, capturing the Jefferson County Athletic Association small-school conference championship and the Class 2, District 4 title before its season came to an end in the sectional round of the state playoffs.
For head coach Bruce Valleroy, the season exceeded expectations from the very beginning.
“Twenty-two and seven — going into the season, I don’t think anybody would have expected that from us,” Valleroy said. “Especially when you consider we only had one senior and several underclassmen playing major roles.”
Despite the youth in the lineup, the Indians quickly developed into a consistently solid team, averaging 65.1 points per game while outscoring opponents by 374 points during their 29-game season.
The Indians shot 46.3 percent from the field and 30.5 percent from three-point range while converting 63.8 percent of their free throws. St. Vincent also dominated the boards with 863 total rebounds and recorded 446 assists, reflecting the team’s balanced and unselfish style of play.
Senior Max Wheeler anchored the offense and delivered one of the most impressive individual seasons in program history. Wheeler averaged 21.6 points per game while also contributing heavily on the glass and defensively. Over the course of the season, he scored 627 points and finished his career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,635 career points scored for the Indians.
“He had a great year scoring and rebounding,” Valleroy said. “Max did everything for us.”
Wheeler was far from alone in leading the Indians’ attack.
Junior guard Colden Prost averaged 16.7 points per game while also contributing 123 assists and strong defensive numbers throughout the season. Case Huber added 7.5 points per contest while serving as one of the team’s primary ball handlers and defensive specialists.
Clay Ellis also played a key role, averaging eight points per game while frequently guarding bigger opponents in the post.
“Clay started for us all year, and we asked a lot of him,” Valleroy said. “He was guarding players bigger than him, but he never backed down.”
Several younger players provided valuable contributions as the season progressed.
Liam Nations averaged 6.1 points per game and emerged as one of the team’s top perimeter shooters, while sophomore Cain Clifton contributed 3.3 points per game as a regular starter. Freshman Quinton Whistler added depth and energy off the bench, averaging 1.7 points per contest while providing key minutes.
Valleroy said the younger players showed significant growth over the course of the season.
“Our younger kids really grew up as the season went along,” he said. “They played their roles perfectly.”
One of the highlights of the year came during the Christmas break when St. Vincent captured the Valle Catholic Tournament championship. The Indians also secured the JCAA small-school conference title, adding another trophy to the program’s growing list of accomplishments.
Later in the season, St. Vincent delivered another milestone moment by winning the Class 2, District 4 championship — the program’s second district title in recent years and a major step forward for a team built around a mix of veterans and developing players.
Throughout the year, Valleroy credited the team’s defense and chemistry as key factors behind the Indians’ success.
St. Vincent recorded 249 steals and 44 blocks during the season while consistently limiting opponents’ scoring opportunities through strong defensive effort.
“Defensively, we probably played a lot better than what people expected us to,” Valleroy said. “Our defense was excellent.”
Just as important was the team’s unity.
“I was very impressed with our team unity — how well they got along with each other on the floor and off the floor,” Valleroy said. “Everything pretty well clicked for us this year.”
The Indians’ postseason run ultimately ended in the Class 2 sectional round, but the season’s accomplishments left plenty to celebrate.
With several key contributors returning and the potential return of injured junior Quinton Doza, Valleroy believes the future remains bright for the program.
For now, the 2025-26 season will stand as a memorable one — highlighted by championships, milestones and a group of players who helped elevate St. Vincent basketball to one of its best seasons in recent memory.
