Eighty-eight state championship banners hang in the Rockhurst Performance Gym. The most recent one for basketball is dated 2013. It has been a long road for the program over the last decade-plus to rise back to the top of Missouri basketball. This year, Rockhurst has a team that can conceivably end the 13-year drought. With arguably the greatest team in Rockhurst basketball regular season history, Hawklets alike can flock together this postseason to catch a potential glimpse at history.
Rockhurst has simply dominated this season, as evidenced by their 20.5-point average margin of victory entering the start of districts. The Hawklets have managed one big win after another en route to an almost perfect 23-1 regular season.
Before we focus on the playoffs let’s take a look back on how Rockhurst got to this point.
Season Summary
The Hawklets kicked off their regular season with back-to-back home wins over fellow Class 6 District 6 rivals Lee’s Summit West and Lee’s Summit. Rockhurst’s 55-49 win over Lee’s Summit marked an act of revenge. The Tigers were responsible for one of Rockhurst’s four regular season losses last year.
With two wins under their belt, the Hawklets continued to roll, defending their Blue Valley Tournament championship from last year with three straight wins over Sumner, Olathe South, and a decisive 61-44 victory over Lee’s Summit in a rematch from their game one week prior.
Following the tournament, the Hawklets survived a scare at Lee’s Summit North, winning 68-66.
After a home win over Blue Valley on Dec. 19, the team traveled to Tampa Bay for their second tournament of the year. The new location did not slow the Hawklets down. The squad won three straight to claim their second tournament trophy of the season.
After returning home to Kansas City, Rockhurst continued to dominate. Back-to-back wins in the new year over Blue Springs and Ruskin set up an early season tilt that felt reminiscent of a playoff matchup.
On Jan. 13, the 12-0 Hawklets hosted the defending Class 6 state champions, Oak Park. The Northmen dismantled Rockhurst in 2025, winning 84-54 on their home court. However, this season, Rockhurst returned the favor. The Hawklets stymied Oak Park, leading to a 64-27 demolition.
The win propelled Rockhurst down the stretch. The Hawklets swept rivals St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Pius X, Bishop Miege, Shawnee Mission East and Pembroke Hill during the ensuing eight-game win streak. Rockhurst’s win over Shawnee Mission East had a little extra flair in 2026. The rivalry was played in the historic Municipal Auditorium for the first time in matchup history. Nonetheless, the Hawklets stretched their win streak over the Lancers to four games with the 56-51 win.
Eventually, the team’s historic and record-breaking 21-game winning streak to open the season came to an end in a Valentine’s Day loss at one of Nebraska’s best teams, Creighton Prep. The Junior Jays ruffled the Hawklets’ feathers with a 41-38 win that came off of an unlikely buzzer-beating three.
Coming off of the loss, Rockhurst took out its anger on Center High School, destroying the Yellowjackets by 35 on Senior Night. To close the regular season, the Hawklets passed their final test with a low-scoring 38-26 win at St. Louis University High School.
Now, to tip-off the postseason, the 23-1 Rockhurst Hawklets will take-on the 8-15 Carthage Tigers at home on Mar. 3 in the opening round of the Class 6 District 6 playoffs.
Teams to Watch
Despite Rockhurst ranking either first or second in Missouri Class 6–depending on which outlet you view–there are various other contenders that can present a challenge to the Hawklets.
Lee’s Summit (21-5)/Lee’s Summit North (13-13)
Rockhurst’s toughest matchup in the playoffs could take place in the District 6 championship, should the Hawklets make it there. Rivals Lee’s Summit and Lee’s Summit North preside on the other side of the district bracket.
Lee’s Summit, the two-seed, is 21-5 on the year. Two of their losses were to the Hawklets. The Tigers come into the playoffs with one loss in their last 17 games. That loss was to Staley in their last game of the regular season. During Lee’s Summit’s torrid 17-game stretch, the Tigers almost stumbled against their rivals, Lee’s Summit North. However, Lee’s Summit came out on top with a 67-66 overtime win on the road.
The Broncos have been up-and-down this year, but they almost beat the two best teams in District 6–losing to Rockhurst and Lee’s Summit by a combined three points. In the loss to the Hawklets, it was clear that Lee’s Summit North’s athleticism and quick style of play counterbalanced Rockhurst’s usually stout defense.
The good news for Rockhurst is that they would only have to play one of these teams to claim the district title. With Lee’s Summit being the two-seed and Lee’s Summit North the three-seed, both teams will likely meet each other in the district semifinals. Whoever wins in that matchup will have the opportunity to upset Rockhurst and enact revenge for an early season loss.
Chaminade College Prep (23-5)/De Smet Jesuit (21-5)
On the other side of the state, Chaminade and De Smet have been the dominant forces this season. Both schools are basketball powerhouses, with Chaminade having notable alums Jayson Tatum, Bradley Beal and Tarris Reed Jr. all pass through their basketball program.
This season Chaminade claimed the one-seed in District 3 on the back of their 23-5 record and relentless offense, which averages 75.04 points per game (ppg). They are led by senior three-star guard and top-ten basketball recruit in the state Jonny Jordan, who is committed to Omaha.
Chaminade’s Catholic school rival, De Smet, is having a similarly strong season, with an identical 21-5 record. This year the two teams have traded two-point wins, with De Smet winning at Chaminade 65-63 early in the season, and Chaminade returning the favor at De Smet 58-56 in early February.
If Rockhurst handles its business in their district and the state quarterfinal, the Hawklets would potentially meet one of these St. Louis teams in the state semifinal.
Kickapoo (21-5)
Kickapoo is the one-seed in District 5. The Chiefs come into the district playoffs on a 12-game winning streak. With double-digit victories over each of the top three teams in their district, Kickapoo should be the state quarterfinal opponent.
Rockhurst’s season last year ended against the District 5 champions (Nixa). This year, Rockhurst should have the edge over a District 5 winner, but an upset could always be in the cards versus a district that brings back bad memories for the Hawklets.
District 8 Champion (Oak Park (21-5), North Kansas City (20-4), Staley (17-9))
District 8, the district that housed last year’s state champion, seems like a coin flip this season. Oak Park, North Kansas City and Staley have all gone back and forth with competitive matchups. Oak Park, the one-seed in the district, has an overtime win over North Kansas City and a two-point victory over Staley. North Kansas City has a nine-point win over Staley, yet Staley has stayed competitive in many marquee matchups this season. Staley beat Kickapoo by 16 points, and they also have an overtime loss to Lee’s Summit. These results have proved the Falcons can hang with elite opponents.
The District 8 winner will be on the opposite side of the state championship bracket, so if Rockhurst were to face one of these teams, they would see them in the state championship.
Conclusion
As the playoffs begin, Rockhurst will be more than 4,000 days removed from its last basketball state championship. This year’s team is capable of breaking that drought. The Hawklets will have to battle a gauntlet of teams inside and outside of their district, yet the team’s historic regular season success points to their ability to manage the load and maybe bring a banner back to Rockhurst’s Performance Gym.
Editor’s note: This is the first of two playoff previews. Look for the second one examining players and trends to watch before Rockhurst’s second-round game of districts on Thursday, March 5.
