The Rockhurst basketball team didn’t cool off over the long Christmas break. If anything, they heated up. Coming out of the break, the Hawklets won four straight, highlighted by a come from behind victory against Blue Springs, a complete domination of Ruskin, a sound defeat of rivals St. Thomas Aquinas, and an impressively large victory over defending state champions Oak Park. The wins ran their record to 14-0, and only added fuel to the conversation around them being one of, if not the, best team in the state in Missouri Class 6.
But inside the locker room, there’s little interest in the hype.
“We hear it, but you’ve got to just tune it out and go day-by-day,” junior forward Kemper Roberts said.
“We’re not worried about who we play,” junior guard Carson Green said. “We’re worried about how we play.”
The Hawklets had already amassed two wins to start the new calendar year before heading into a showdown against defending state champions Oak Park. That included a comeback 52-47 victory against Blue Springs on Jan. 8, and an easy win at home against Ruskin, 74-27, on Jan. 9.
The Hawklets day-by-day mindset showed itself clearly in their demolition of Oak Park in a game that–to observers–barely felt competitive. The Hawklets commanded the game from the opening tip, with the defense setting the tone. With 11 steals and 21 rebounds, the Hawklets allowed only 27 total points to the No. 1 team in the state, according to the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association, with just 10 of those coming in the second half.
The complementary style of play that Head Coach Billy Thomas has pushed in his time at the helm of the Hawklets gave Rockhurst one of its most important wins of the season. Roberts led the way, alongside senior Cohen Robinson. They combined for 22 points, and each came away with 3 rebounds and 3 steals apiece.
Despite the convincing win over the Northmen, the players know not to rest on their laurels.
“I think we’ll see them again in the post season,” Green said. “If we get through districts, we’ll more than likely have to play them to win state.”
The Hawklets continued to show their aggressive attitude coming out of the game against Oak Park with another dominant performance against rivals St Thomas Aquinas, winning 75-47.
Rockhurst barely escaped an upset against the Saints last year, walking away with a 51-50 victory, and this year the players didn’t expect the game to be any different, despite Aquinas boasting a 2-7 record coming into the matchup.
But the Hawklets played like the better team they have proven to be over the course of this season. Despite Aquinas initially locking down the paint defensively, Rockhurst found their deep ball, banging four 3-pointers in the opening period. This downtown threat opened up passing lanes in the paint, leaving the Saint’s two-three zone in shambles by halftime.
The Hawklets went into the second half leading 31-22, and didn’t look back, with the defense shutting the Saints offense down and the offense finding their rhythm en route to the 28-point win.
What’s made this team especially dangerous is how many different players can hurt opponents. Against the Saints, ten different players scored, with 23 of the Hawklet’s 75 points coming from the bench.
Roberts had another exceptional night against Aquinas, hitting multiple threes and putting up 22 points, to go along with 5 rebounds and a steal.
“The mindset is just to bring energy and intensity,” Roberts said. “Whatever the team needs.”
Roberts’ back-to-back impressive performances elevated him to Athlete of the Week status, an internal recognition at Rockhurst that highlighted the best athletic performance of the week.
As far as the team as a whole, Thomas says the biggest difference between this year’s and last year’s is how connected they are.
“More of a unit,” Thomas said. “Not worried about individual stuff. Just work together, and play complementary basketball.”
The leadership, underclassmen note, comes from a senior class six players strong–a group that has set the tone every day, from practice to the court–and a coaching staff that doesn’t let them get comfortable.
“Our coaches keep us humble,” Green said. “BT [Coach Thomas] always talks about stacking days. Just keep getting better, day by day.”
Even with blowout wins, an undefeated record and a new crown as the No. 1 team in Class 6, complacency hasn’t crept in.
“We don’t really worry about the streak,” Roberts said. “The biggest challenge is staying humble and not listening to the noise.”
That noise has only gotten louder, especially with tough games ahead in the North Kansas City tournament and teams like Creighton Prep and Rock Bridge looming on the horizon, not to mention the potential rematch with Oak Park in the postseason.
But the goal of winning the first state championship since 2013 remains. The mindset and hunger remains the same. The work ethic remains the same.
And if anyone thinks this team hasn’t been tested yet?
“Then they just haven’t watched us,” Green said.
At 14-0, with a margin of victory of almost 23 points per game, Rockhurst isn’t just winning. They’re building something. Stacking the days, just like Coach Thomas wants. And so far, no one has figured out how to stop it.
