Tuesday’s Real Winners Across the Kansas City Metro

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a big night of basketball across the Kansas City metro, highlighted by several exciting matchups and standout individual performances. In this breakdown, I'll focus on three games and the players who made the most of their opportunities, detailing how they impacted the action on the floor. I'll also look ahead to upcoming matchups and explore what they could mean for these players and teams as the season continues.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rockhurst 64, Oak Park 27</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Rockhurst delivered a dominant performance, locking up Oak Park with stifling defense and consistently making the Northmen uncomfortable — something rarely seen against this group. From the opening tip, the Hawklets' size and strength at every position proved overwhelming. They closed down driving lanes, kept the ball in front, and took away easy looks, forcing Oak Park into difficult possessions. Defensively, their rotations were sharp and disciplined, as Rockhurst stayed locked in on that end of the floor for much of the night.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>That defensive intensity carried over to the offensive end, where the Hawklets capitalized on mismatches and turned stops into scoring opportunities in transition. [player_tooltip player_id='2090487' first='Cohen' last='Robinson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2205734' first='Kemper' last='Roberts'] led the way, each finishing with 11 points while scoring in a variety of ways. Both knocked down shots from deep to stretch the defense, and Robinson also attacked the rim effectively in transition and played downhill when the moment called for it.</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'] was impactful on both ends of the floor, creating havoc defensively with steals, deflections, and blocks. Offensively, he added timely buckets that consistently caused problems for Oak Park's interior defenders. Heuston Sanders and Elijah Curtis also made their presence felt, each scoring multiple times and contributing in both the half-court offense and in transition.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>For anyone who doubted Rockhurst, this performance served as a clear statement. The Hawklets look like the class of 6A in the Kansas City area — and perhaps the entire state. They'll have a pair of intriguing tests coming up, with a road matchup at Bishop Miege on January 27 followed by a trip to Rock Bridge on February 6.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Seaman 57, Topeka West 52</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>In a matchup featuring two tough, physical teams, Seaman came away with a hard-earned win, avenging an earlier-season loss to Topeka West. The game stayed tight throughout, with momentum swinging back and forth — especially during a highly competitive fourth quarter. Every time the Chargers made a run, Seaman responded, and after the score was knotted at 52, the Vikings finished strong by scoring the final five points to seal the victory.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>As expected, [player_tooltip player_id='2211343' first='KaeVon' last='Bonner'] led the way for Seaman, pouring in 28 points, while [player_tooltip player_id='2245738' first='Griffin' last='Zuniga'] added 15. Both Bonner and Zuniga were extremely efficient from the field, consistently capitalizing on their scoring opportunities. Their ability to penetrate the defense and find openings fueled Seaman's offense and applied constant pressure on the Chargers. [player_tooltip player_id='1965355' first='Landon' last='Wiltz'] also played a crucial role, knocking down timely perimeter shots that helped space the floor and keep Topeka West's defense honest.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Topeka West battled to the final buzzer behind a strong performance from [player_tooltip player_id='2209783' first='Keimani' last='Paul'], who finished with 18 points. Paul used his size and length to his advantage, serving as the Chargers' primary scoring threat for much of the night. Look for him to continue building momentum as the season moves forward.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The challenge doesn't ease up for Seaman, as the Vikings head to Washburn Rural on the 27th for what should be another physical, hard-fought contest. As they continue to build confidence and belief, Seaman is proving it can compete with — and beat — anyone on its schedule, positioning itself as a potential factor in the postseason race.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shawnee Heights 72, Piper 70</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Aiden Scott and JaiMarion Cook sparked an explosive start for Shawnee Heights on Tuesday night, as the Thunderbirds came out firing and quickly put Piper on its heels. Both players were locked in and aggressive from the opening tip, with Cook especially catching fire from beyond the arc. He was nearly unstoppable at times, knocking down multiple three-pointers and finishing the night with 25 points. His shooting helped propel Shawnee Heights to an eight-point advantage at halftime.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>As the game wore on, [player_tooltip player_id='2949421' first='Javeon' last='Alston'] and Cam Ross joined the attack, thriving in transition and feeding off the attention Cook drew on the perimeter. Their energy and execution made Shawnee Heights extremely difficult to contain, and the Thunderbirds appeared to put the game out of reach by extending their lead to 25 points in the third quarter.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>But Piper was far from finished. The Pirates cranked up the defensive pressure in the fourth quarter, forcing turnovers and disrupting Shawnee Heights' rhythm. That intensity allowed Piper to chip away at the deficit and eventually cut the lead down to a single possession.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='2209781' first='DJ' last='Jackson'] spearheaded the comeback effort, finishing with a game-high 27 points. He took over offensively with his shot-making while also making a strong impact on the defensive end, showcasing his impressive two-way play. [player_tooltip player_id='2211352' first='Cooper' last='Crawford'] added another spark, scoring effectively in the paint and using his length and explosiveness to finish strong around — and above — the rim. Their performances energized the entire roster, and Piper's depth began to wear Shawnee Heights down as the second half progressed.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>In the end, the Thunderbirds managed to hang on for a narrow two-point victory, but not without a scare. Piper had the ball on the final possession with a chance to complete the comeback, capping off a thrilling and hard-fought contest.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Shawnee Heights will hit the road to face Blue Valley North on the 22nd, while Piper returns home to host Topeka West on February 6th. Both matchups are significant and worth keeping an eye on, as the season continues to heat up and momentum becomes increasingly important for both programs.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->