Rockhurst doesn’t lack for rivals when it comes to athletics. Games against Bishop Miege, St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Pius X always mark battles for local Catholic school supremacy. St. Louis University High brings the Jesuit brethren tie-in. You could also count Blue Springs, Pembroke Hill and any of the Lee’s Summit schools in that category–depending on the sport.
“It seems, at Rockhurst, we have a lot of rivals, and a lot of them we don’t even know,” Athletic Director Tom Kruse said.
But when it comes to games on the hardwood, one well-known rival stands above the rest: Shawnee Mission East. The “State Line Showdown” is always the most-attended matchup of the season. Last year, East came to Rockhurst and played in front of a sold-out crowd…of less than 1,000 people. When the matchup travels to the Lancers’ home floor every other year, several hundred more can see the game there, but it still doesn’t offer the capacity necessary for all of the students, parents and alumni to watch this intense rivalry.
This year, on Friday night, the game will be played in a venue that should offer enough seating: historic Municipal Arena in downtown Kansas City.
“Municipal seats up to around 5,000-6,000. East holds around 18-hundred, and here we hold 900,” Kruse said. “So, this year, if you want a ticket, you can get one.”
The greater size of Municipal means fans won’t have to wait outside one of the schools in the cold just hoping for the chance to get in.
“[In] past years here, we were only allowed to let in 12 people at a time so that we don’t hit capacity, and the last thing you want is the fire department to come and shut you down due to capacity,” Kruse said. “So I think this move opens it up.”
Kruse says Rockhurst and East have been talking about moving the game to a larger venue for about a year. Things really kicked into gear after last year’s game. Then, it all came together specifically with Municipal in late summer.
“When Municipal reached out that their date had actually opened up, that is when we started having several conversations, tours, and meeting with their event staff,” Kruse said.
Not only will more fans get to attend the game this year, but players will play in one of the most iconic arenas in men’s college basketball. Municipal Arena has hosted more national championship games (10) and more regional finals (13) than any other venue. It ranks second in the country in the number of NCAA tournament games hosted, too, with 83. This despite the fact that the last tournament game played there (fittingly, a national championship game) happened in 1964. It still regularly hosts the NAIA tournament.
“I’m super excited. It’s going to be awesome,” junior forward Kemper Roberts said.
Players, though, know they can’t be in awe of their surroundings too much on Friday night.
“We’ll come out, you know, excited, ready to go, jumping a little higher, running a little faster, but that will also help the other team,” Roberts said.
This year won’t be the only time the teams will square off at Municipal. Kruse says they have a two-year contract, giving them an opportunity to try it out and see how it works. He says they will evaluate it after that.
Not only will more tickets be available by holding the game at a place like Municipal, but there are more ways to get them. Students could buy them at Rockhurst in the days leading up to the game, but the general public can purchase them online.
Friday night’s game adds another chapter in what has been a spirited rivalry through the years. It’s a rivalry that will extend to the gridiron next year as well, when Rockhurst and East square off during a Week 3 football game. But, for now, it’s all about hoops and the opportunity for players, students and fans to take part in something that places this game on a bigger stage.
“I hope it is a great experience for all,” Kruse said. “Overall, players are going to get to play in an iconic event space that hosts a lot of college basketball games, but hasn’t hosted a high school game there for over 20 years.”
The junior varsity game gets things going Friday night at 5:30. Varsity will follow at 7 p.m.
Susie Boren • Jan 30, 2026 at 1:12 pm
Good article, Ethan! If we were in town, we would definitely go to the game.