Undefeated, top-ranked Kapaun-Collegiate boys basketball game back on schedule
It would have been easy to quietly write off a snowed-out, midseason tournament championship game and move on with the season.
But that never felt like an option with this game. Not for Kapaun Mt. Carmel. Not for Wichita Collegiate. And certainly not for a city that has been buzzing about the rare collision between two unbeaten Wichita boys basketball powers.
After days of logistical wrangling and persistent motivation from both sides, the highly anticipated Bluestem Classic championship matchup between No. 1-ranked Kapaun (Class 5A) and No. 1-ranked Collegiate (Class 3A) is officially back on the schedule.
The two undefeated teams will meet Monday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. at Friends University, salvaging what many view as one of the most compelling high school matchups in the city.
The original game, slated to be played this past Saturday in El Dorado, was first postponed by a snowstorm, then canceled outright when frigid temperatures wiped out school on the rescheduled Monday. Since then, the two sides have been working behind the scenes not only to find a mutually open date later in the season, but also a suitable venue.
“Trying to find an open date at this point of the season is really tough, then we also had to find a location that worked for both teams,” Collegiate coach Nate Schmitt said. “So it’s exciting to make it work. I couldn’t walk down the hallway at school without someone asking me if I got this game rescheduled. There’s a lot of people who really want to see this game, so we’re excited to be a part of it.”
Kapaun is currently 14-0, riding a 31-game winning streak as the defending 5A state champions and the top-ranked team in the classification. The Crusaders’ calling card has been a suffocating defense that allows just 37.2 points per game, a stark contrast to what they’ll face in Collegiate’s relentless, fast-paced offense.
The Spartans are 13-0, ranked No. 1 in 3A and averaging 81.9 points per game. No opponent has kept Collegiate within 15 points this season and the Spartans are winning by an average margin of 39 points.
Despite the buzz, Kapaun coach Steve Eck has made it clear to his team that the players can’t afford to look ahead to the matchup. The Crusaders are locked in a tight City League race and face a demanding stretch that includes games against East and a road trip to rival Bishop Carroll, which is currently streaking and ranked in the top 10 in Class 5A.
“We’ve got a lot of big games before then,” Eck said. “We’ve got a lot of tough games coming up, so we can’t really worry about Collegiate right now.”
From a scheduling standpoint, the rescheduled date fits Kapaun relatively cleanly. The Crusaders had a week-long break between Feb. 13 and Feb. 20, allowing the game to slot in without overtaxing a veteran roster accustomed to high-level games. Collegiate’s path is a bit more demanding, as the Spartans will play the following night at home against El Dorado.
Kapaun has been powered this season by junior Blaise Dalian, who has blossomed into one of the state’s best players, alongside fellow stars in Rocco Keller and Jude Porter and rising freshman Braylon Jones. Even with injuries, the Crusaders are deep, experienced and comfortable playing high-stakes games.
Collegiate counters with a star-studded trio in senior Sebastian Hines-Turner, senior A.J. Batiste and junior Kamari Jennings, the engines behind an offense that overwhelms teams with their athleticism, pace and shooting.
“Collegiate is really, really good,” Eck said. “They probably have the best athletes in the city and they’re mostly juniors and seniors now. They were the fab freshmen when they came in, now they’re seniors. So they’re really good.”
While Kapaun is accustomed to measuring itself weekly against quality City League competition, the opportunity carries special weight for Collegiate. The Spartans have dominated nearly everyone in their path — at their level and above — making this a rare chance to test themselves against the state’s reigning heavyweight.
“We have the utmost respect for Kapaun and their program and for coach Eck,” Schmitt said. “It’s a win-win for us to be able to play an undefeated, defending state champion. We always want to go out and compete against the best and see where we are. It’s only going to make us better, so we’re excited for it.”
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