The 2025–26 season has been a long, winding run that began with early questions and has grown into another deep postseason push. From the first weekend in November through the state quarterfinal in Macon, St. Andrew’s has had to find answers in tight finishes, respond to midseason setbacks, and carry the weight of high expectations that come with the program’s recent history.
In head coach Mel Abrams’ view, the defining trait of this team has been its evolution. “Growth and maturity,” Abrams said. “A new group of leaders with a fairly large group of young players who have each grown individually.”
The opening stretch set the tone. The Lions began the year with a 50–40 win over Morgan County at the Pro Movement Showcase, jumping out to an early lead, giving it up late, and then closing the game on an 11–0 run when the outcome was in doubt. A few nights later, they raced past South Effingham at home, building a 51–18 halftime margin behind a fast start on both ends. Even in the first week, Ja’Cari Glover established himself as a constant inside presence, stacking double-doubles while the group around him settled into new roles.
The schedule tightened quickly after that first burst of momentum. A loss to Bradwell forced the Lions to regroup, and a trip to Hilton Head Island became an early gut check. December brought bumps, including close losses that could easily have knocked the season off track. Instead, the Lions stayed committed to their daily habits and used those non-region games as opportunities to learn from their mistakes. As Abrams notes, “The confidence we have on the court comes from our daily habits and the experience and feedback we gathered from our non-region schedule.”
That steady foundation began to show in the Gray Solana Memorial Game, when St. Andrew’s returned home and earned a 66–42 win over Hilton Head Prep. Glover was nearly unstoppable inside in that game and has remained a matchup problem for opponents all season long. “It’s his physicality and athleticism,” Abrams said. “He plays with a high motor and plays much bigger than his actual height.”
At the Savannah Christian Christmas Classic, the Lions put together wins over Mount Paran and Effingham County and began to settle into a clearer identity — defending with purpose and playing with better spacing and patience offensively.
Region play turned that identity into a statement. The Lions opened conference action with a 68–21 win at Pinewood Christian and never really slowed down. They strung together convincing region victories, including a dominant performance at Westminster and a 90-point outburst on Senior Night against Pinewood. Even on nights when shots were inconsistent, though, the defensive standard of the team held firm.
The regular season ended with the Lions holding a 16–6 overall record. St. Andrew’s once again finished 8–0 In region play, completing a sixth consecutive undefeated run through the region schedule — a level of sustained success Abrams attributes to the broader foundation around the program. “To me it speaks to the support of our administration, the trust from our parents and the buy-in from our players,” he said.
Individual performances reinforced that success. Glover controlled the paint in big moments throughout the year. Chase Brown and Page Getter each had stretches where they took over games, the product of an offseason commitment that Abrams believes is now paying dividends. “They both made an off-season commitment to get better,” Abrams said. “What you’re seeing now is the fruit of that work. They’re playing with confidence, and that confidence is a result of the work.”
The St. Andrew’s School boys basketball roster for the 2025–26 season includes key contributors who helped lead the Lions to the GIAA Class AAA State Final Four. (Courtesy of the St. Andrew’s School boys basketball program)
Amari Cook and Milos Copic often impacted games in ways that went beyond the stat sheet. “They are the connectors,” Abrams said. “Amari’s ability to generate offense with his defense is so valuable. Milos’ ability to facilitate and make plays at his size has been a huge benefit.”
The postseason has reinforced how far the group has come. St. Andrew’s rolled into the region tournament as the top seed, extended its dominance over Pinewood in the semifinals, and handled Frederica in the championship to claim a fifth straight region title. The victory also delivered Abrams’ 200th career win and marked the program’s 50th consecutive victory over region opponents.
The GIAA Class AAA state playoff bracket shows St. Andrew’s School advancing to the semifinals after its quarterfinal win over Frederica Academy. (Courtesy of the St. Andrew’s School boys basketball program)
In the state quarterfinal, the Lions once again faced Frederica and found themselves trailing at halftime. What followed was one of the defining stretches of the season — a 30–4 run that flipped the game and secured a 72–55 win, sending St. Andrew’s to its fifth consecutive State Final Four.
Wednesday brings a familiar opponent. This will be the fourth straight year that St. Andrew’s and Lakeview Academy meet in the semifinals. On facing Lakeview again, Abrams noted, “When you play someone as many times as we have, there is a level of familiarity that creates challenges. It becomes similar to playing a region opponent.”
The Lions won the matchup in 2023 and 2025, while Lakeview claimed it in 2024. In each of the past three seasons, the winner of that game has gone on to win the state championship. As for the historical weight surrounding the matchup, Abrams keeps it simple. “Honestly, it means nothing. Both teams are different. The approach is still to win and advance.”
However, this season concludes, Abrams hopes this era will be remembered for more than banners. “That we played defense at an elite level and that we played unselfishly on offense,” he said. “But more importantly, that as coaches we used the game to impact lives and develop high-character, hard-working young men.”
And with that standard in place, the next chapter awaits.
Photo credit: Courtesy of justshootsports and the St. Andrew’s School boys basketball program.
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Team physicians include Dr. Don Aaron (Bryan County), Dr. David Sedory (Benedictine, Bradwell Institute, Liberty County), Dr. David Palmer (Calvary Day, Richmond Hill, South Effingham), and Dr. Thomas Alexander (Savannah Country Day, St. Vincent’s Academy).
