COLUMBIA, MO – Many of the same De Smet players who won a state title two years earlier walked onto the Mizzou Arena floor looking to repeat the feat.
The method of operation was completely different.
After draining a barrage of three-pointers to win their previous title, the Spartans mercilessly attacked the paint Saturday to defeat Blue Springs South 78-61 in the Class 6 championship game at the 2026 MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown.
De Smet (27-5), which captured its second state title in three seasons, scored 20 of its 26 baskets from inside the lane and converted 22-of-24 free throws in a physically-imposing, championship performance.
“It’s a totally different team, even though some of the guys are still here. We shot a lot more threes (in 2024),” De Smet coach Kent Williams said. “This year, we’ve been very good going downhill. If you look at the analytics, our percentages when we get in the paint are very good.”
There was no formula to slow down De Smet senior Jordan Boyd, who displayed the full arsenal of his game in the opening minutes. He scored on a nifty post move, drained a corner 3 and swished a mid-range jumper to give the Spartans a quick 9-2 lead.
“I wanted to come out with as much energy as possible, and my teammates allowed me to create space and get buckets,” said Boyd, who finished with 26 points and nine rebounds.
Lefty point guard Ian Thomas took the baton from there, accepting high ball screens and getting to the basket with regularity. Thomas scored 21 points, and combined with Boyd, went 16-of-24 from the floor and made 14-of-15 free throws.
“We were trying to get downhill. We knew if we could get into the paint, we would make plays,” Thomas said.
Led by Boyd, De Smet’s toughness appeared all over the floor in the form of drawn charges, Superman dives and strong rebounds in traffic. His hustling recovery of an airball, spin move and And-1 finish gave the Spartans a commanding 39-23 lead at halftime.
“I really take pride in all the little things, like chasing down loose balls and diving on the floor because those things give us extra possessions. Whatever helps us win the game, I’m ready for,” Boyd said.
Part of the De Smet program’s use of analytics is a ‘Play Hard’ chart that keeps track of And-1s, drawn charges and hustle plays.
“(Boyd) dominates the “Play Hard” chart every night. We’re going to call it the “Jordan Boyd Hustle Award” from here on out,” Williams said.
Blue Springs South (24-8), which ousted Cardinal Ritter 54-51 in a Class 6 semifinal, emerged from halftime with a run-and-jump, full court press that created chaos and steals.
A steal and driving layup from senior Blayne Marshall sliced the deficit to 46-37 midway through the third quarter.
“We had to try something different defensively,” Blue Springs South coach Josh Smith said. “We were able to turn them over due to the activity of our guys and we fought our way back to at least put some game pressure on them.”
Marshall, the Jaguars’ career leader in steals, was superb during that stretch, scoring 19 of his game high 25 points in the second half and helping the Jaguars climb back into the game.
“I knew we were down big, so I wanted to give the team a spark. Playing defense, getting downhill, that’s my game, and my teammates helped me,” Marshall said.
But the toughness of Boyd and Thomas proved too much.
Boyd scored on a contested putback, then converted a tough basket in traffic that produced yet another Mizzou Arena floor burn. Thomas followed with a power move to the rim and left-handed finish. When Boyd drove baseline and found senior Braden Butler for a corner three, the De Smet lead ballooned to 67-49.
“I wouldn’t say we relaxed, but when got up 19 or 20 (points) early in the second half, we turned it over too many times and gave them a chance to get back into it,” Williams said. “But we got refocused, got through the press and were able to break through with some baskets at the rim and an open three to stretch the lead.”
In 2024, De Smet won a Class 5 state title by draining 10-of-11 three-point attempts in the first half to earn a runaway 75-56 victory over Jefferson City. On Saturday, the Spartans went just 4-of-9 from behind the arc while doing most of their damage inches from the rim.
“We wanted to get into the paint, get post touches and take advantage of our strength and our size inside,” Williams said. “We also thought our offense rebounding would be better (from shorter shots) as opposed to long rebounds.”
Blue Springs South, which made its second trip to the final four and first since winning the Class 5 title 2015, will make several updates to its record books after this historic season, adding career steals leader Marshall, career assists leader AC Rollins, and career three-pointers leader Chris Ellis to its leaderboard.
“Sometimes, you have to make one update to that career leaderboard at the end of a year. I have to make a whole bunch this year, including this final four appearance,” Smith said. “They have left their mark, and although this is not the final chapter we were hoping for, it does not take away from the incredible things they have done.”
And for De Smet, which has won two state titles in three seasons after not winning one since 1999, the Spartans’ “mission back to tradition” motto is being realized.
“It feels really good to get the school back to its winning tradition,” Butler said. “We won the first state championship in the 2000’s and it feels really good to keep that going and get a second one.”
Thomas added, “I wouldn’t want it any other way. Just to know that we were able to win our last game together is a great accomplishment.”
For a photo gallery from this game visit: https://benvessa.smugmug.com/Boys-Basketball-Photos/Boys-Basketball-2025-26/De-Smet-vs-Blue-Springs-South-Class-6-championship
