The Rockhurst Hawklets are the number one ranked basketball program in Missouri. Photo credit Facebook.
HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS
By Sam Kombrink
It’s that time of year again. Football season has officially ended, and now sports fans in Kansas City are turning their attention to basketball.
There is a lot of excitement about the talent this high school hoops season in south Kansas City. Now that it’s early February, that means that it’s crunch time to lock up a playoff spot for a deep March Madness run.
Here’s a short recap of the local south KC men’s and women’s high-school basketball programs.
ROCKHURST (19-1)
- Head coach: Pete Campbell
- No. 1 ranked Basketball Program in the state of Missouri
- Win %: .950
- Last game: L 53-52 vs Blue Springs South (6-3) on Friday, February 1st.
- Key players: (#14) Guard-Tyler Nelson, (#25) Forward-Darrius Hughes, (#2) Guard-Mason Thompson, (#30) Forward-AJ White, (#0) Guard-Glen McClintock, (#11) Guard-Marcus Teahan.
NOTRE DAME DE SION (8-8)
- Head coach: Jared Pitts
- Win %: .500
- Last game: W 65-41 vs Metro Academy (20-7) on Friday, February 1st
BARSTOW
Men’s: (10-9)
- Head coach: Billy Thomas
- Win %: .526
- Last game: W 60-44 vs Kansas City Christian School (7-8) on Friday, February 1st.
- Key players: (#4) Guard-Chris Lee, (#25) Guard-Louis Christifano, (#23) Guard-Connor Arment.
Women’s: (8-5)
- Head coach: Josh House
- Win %: .667
- Key players: (#12) Guard-Brylee Glenn, (#1) Guard-Jaelyn Glenn, (#20) Forward-Lexi Dixon, (#3) Guard-Addy Betts.
The Grandview Lady Bulldogs basketball team (14-5) claimed the invitational Pleasant Hill Tournament championship with a 47-40 win against Grain Valley. Photo credit Facebook.
GRANDVIEW
Men’s (18-2)
- Head coach: Reggie Morris
- Win %: .900
- Last game: W 90-48 vs Winnetonka (7-14) on Friday, February 1st.
- Key players: (#10) Guard-Deandre Sorrells, (#32) Forward-Reggie Morris, (#33) Forward-Kamto Eze.
Women’s (14-5)
- Head coach: Heath Cooper
- Win %: .750
- Last game: W 80-41 vs Raytown South (3-10) on Monday, February 4th.
- Key players: (#12) Guard-Cierra Smith
CENTER
Men’s (10-8)
- Head coach: LeDale Wooten
- Win %: .556
- Last game: W 75-50 vs Metro Academy (16-16) on Monday, February 4th.
- Key players: (#5) Forward-Keyren Spiller, (#20) Guard-Arthur Williams, (#10) Guard-Taray Winfrey, (#3) Guard-Darius Walsh, (#1) Guard-Damien Burnett.
Women’s (9-5)
- Head coach: Katrina Johnigan
- Win %: .643
LUTHERAN
Men’s (12-6)
- Head coach: Aaron Bruening
- Win %: .667
- Last game: W 65-29 vs Northland Christian (1-17) on Friday, February 1st.
Women’s (9-8)
- Head coach: Chuck Pohlman
- Win %: .529
- Last game: L 56-31 @ Plattsburg (13-4) on Wednesday, January 30th.
RUSKIN
Men’s (8-13)
- Head coach: Ray Hughes
- Win %: .381
- Last game: L 64-38 vs Fort Osage (16-3).
Women’s (5-14)
- Head coach: Shannon Moore
- Win %: .263
Make sure to check out the local high school hoops talent all across south KC.
EDITOR’S NOTE: In the printed version, we mistakenly named the head coach for Barstow’s Women’s Basketball which should be Josh House and not Gary Newsome.