Championship Watch: Kansas City’s Teams with Title Potential

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>*Photo by Rockhurst High School Athletics</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As play ramps back up following the holiday season, there are several teams on the Missouri side that appear poised for potential deep postseason runs at both the 6A and 5A levels. I'll examine what makes these teams so difficult to deal with and why, moving forward, they have positioned themselves well to chase a state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Oak Park | 9-2 | 6A</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The reigning state champions are no surprise on this list. They have faced the toughest schedule in the metro area to this point, continuing to play anyone, anywhere. The combination of a highly talented roster and a willingness to challenge themselves — especially early in the season — separates them from other programs in Kansas City. Powered by [player_tooltip player_id='1850445' first='Adam' last='Tanner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1850444' first='Josh' last='Kori'] on the perimeter, the Northmen are dynamic, experienced, and skilled. They can play at any pace but thrive when pushing the tempo and applying pressure, with both guards relying on strong instincts to drive the squad on both ends.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Adding to that strength is true big man [player_tooltip player_id='1850452' first='Landon' last='Van Pelt'] in the middle, giving the core a physical presence that creates difficult matchup problems. Rounding out the roster are [player_tooltip player_id='2952093' first='Jakaya' last='Duff'], [player_tooltip player_id='2719502' first='Howard' last='Chase'], and Alfonso Fincher, all of whom are capable of impacting games and bring different strengths to the lineup on any given night. The old adage holds true — the champion is the champion until someone knocks them off — and that is certainly the case for Oak Park.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Notable wins: Staley (MO), Millard North (NE), Little Rock Christian (AR), Bellevue West (NE), Blue Springs South (MO)</em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Rockhurst | 10-0 | 6A</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Perhaps the biggest threat to Oak Park is a team trending under the radar: Rockhurst. The Hawklets have quietly put together an impressive start to the season, sitting undefeated with a collection of strong wins. They boast an extremely balanced lineup and can attack opponents in a variety of ways with different players, making it difficult to key in on any single phase of their game.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2346142' first='Kevin' last='Sullivan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2090487' first='Cohen' last='Robinson'] drive the Rockhurst attack with their complementary inside-outside play. Sullivan is a strong, athletic interior presence with good mobility, while Robinson is a long, intelligent lead guard who reads the floor well and delivers timely shots. Hueston Saunders adds size and depth, impacting games on both ends of the floor and on the glass. Behind that top group, the Hawklets feature a reliable supporting cast in [player_tooltip player_id='2205734' first='Kemper' last='Roberts'], Max Moylan, and Carson Green, all of whom fit seamlessly into their system. The conversation now turns to how Rockhurst finishes the season and whether they can continue building momentum as March approaches.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Notable wins: Lee's Summit (MO) (twice), Lee's Summit North (MO) , Blue Valley (KS), St. Xavier (OH), St. John's Jesuit (OH)</em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Staley | 3-4 | 6A</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Although Staley finished the month of December in flux, when healthy, they remain a team to be reckoned with. They pushed Oak Park as far as anyone has early in the season and possess significant depth, particularly on the perimeter, which could become more impactful as the season progresses. [player_tooltip player_id='2114720' first='Kenison' last='Stone'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2334971' first='Jackson' last='Smith'] have been the Falcons' most influential players so far, both playing with high motors and energy that translate to success on both ends of the floor.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Behind them, [player_tooltip player_id='2334945' first='Tra' last='Moore'], Kobe Hicks, and [player_tooltip player_id='2896574' first='Will' last='Hansen'] have each provided sparks at different points early in the season. If this group can get back on track and build on its early success, Staley should position itself back in the conversation among the top 6A teams in the Kansas City area.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Notable wins: Kickapoo (MO), Derby (KS)</em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Grandview | 7-1 | 5A</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Grandview may be in the driver's seat when it comes to Kansas City's biggest 5A threat on the Missouri side. Sitting at 7–1, the Bulldogs have picked up several quality wins, particularly in close games that have tested their composure and toughness. Although they are coming off their first loss of the season to Oak Park, they responded with a win over Center, a result that may have helped highlight areas for improvement and growth moving forward.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Eli Strother and James Frazier have set the tone with a strong-minded, two-way approach that has paced Grandview throughout the season. Strother has been the primary catalyst as of late, but the Bulldogs have also seen increased contributions from [player_tooltip player_id='2837064' first='Daniel' last='Ford'], [player_tooltip player_id='2952114' first='Rashad' last='Herron'], and Chris Johnson. Grandview's postseason outlook will depend heavily on how it finishes the regular season and whether it can consistently play its best basketball against top-tier competition as March approaches.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Notable wins: Pembroke Hill (MO), Center (MO), Summit Christian (MO), St. Michael the Archangel (MO)</em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Pembroke Hill | 4-5 | 5A</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Pembroke Hill should firmly be in the mix as a 5A contender out of Kansas City, as they feature one of the area's most talented players in Mavrick Hawkins. Hawkins has shown flashes of dominance this year but will need to continue growing from his experiences against teams that make a concerted effort to take him out of the game. Like many teams on this list, the Raiders have chosen to challenge themselves with a demanding schedule, facing multiple high-level programs from around the region — an approach that should pay dividends as the season progresses.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Cal Sprott has also stood out early, putting together several strong scoring performances and showing the ability to score consistently at all three levels. Pembroke Hill has additional pieces around those two, but the key moving forward will be consistency across the roster. The Raiders will be looking for Robert Nonemaker, Braden Shelley, and John Schroeder to continue taking steps forward as the season unfolds.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><em>Notable wins: Center (MO), Grain Valley (MO)</em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->