Three Johnson County high school basketball teams went into their spring break as champions.
The Olathe North boys basketball team won the program’s first-ever title, taking the Kansas Class 6A crown on Saturday, March 15.
On the girls’ side in Class 6A, Shawnee Mission South won their second state trophy in three years.
And in Class 5A, the St. James Academy girls’ basketball team also won the championship.
“A monster schedule”
Adam Olerich, head coach of the Olathe North boys’ basketball team, told the Post the team wanted to win the program’s first-ever state title, particularly after finishing runners-up last year to Shawnee Mission Northwest.
Olerich said he and the other coaches told the team they’d have to earn the opportunity to play at state.
Once they made it, Olerich said he thinks “they played excellent basketball.”
The Eagles secured the title with an impressive 17-point win against top-seeded SM South. The final score was 67-50, KSHSAA Covered reported.
“I think as a coach, you’re just really, really happy for your kids, for your players first and foremost,” Olerich said. “Let’s be honest, they’re out there doing the majority of the work.”
Olerich came onto the Eagles coaching staff in 2012 as an assistant coach for the junior varsity squad. He gives credit to former head and varsity assistant coaches Jeff Walton and Matt Smith for turning the program in the right direction with three state tournament appearances under their leadership.
In the 2019-20 season, Olerich became head coach when both Walton and Smith stepped down. Olerich’s teams have made it to the state tournament for five consecutive years since 2022.
This season, Olerich said the team fought hard all along the way.
Olathe North’s season opener started with a tough game against Blue Valley North and continued with challenging tournaments, including in the Sunflower League, which had teams end up with the top three spots in the state tournament.
“It’s just a monster schedule, it gets you prepared and it just toughens you up for what’s coming in the postseason,” Olerich said, adding that Olathe North also had the right mix of coaching staff and “high, high-character kids.”
Raiders and Thunder both win championships
Two other Johnson County basketball teams — the SM South and the St. James Academy girls’ basketball teams — also won state championships on March 15.
The Lady Raiders defeated Blue Valley Northwest 57-45 in the championship game, taking home the state title in the Class 6A division.
This is the Lady Raiders’ second state title in three years under the leadership of coach Mark Western.
“These girls were nice enough to give me this experience for the 2nd time in 3 years,” Western said on social media site X. “I’ll never take it for granted and I’ll always admit it’s because of them. There are so many coaches that are A LOT better than me without one. I am lucky to have these young ladies in my life.”
These girls were nice enough to give me this experience for the 2nd time in 3 years. I’ll never take it for granted and I’ll always admit it’s because of them. There are so many coaches that are A LOT better than me without one. I am lucky to have these young ladies in my life 🔰 pic.twitter.com/N5fagmj1Hx
— Mark Western (@CoachWestern) March 15, 2026
In Class 5A, St. James Academy girls’ team won it all. The win marked the first state title for the Lenexa-based Thunder.
St. James edged out Hays in the title game by a final score of 49-48.
“Woke up a State Champion”
Several students, coaches and schools from Olathe North, SM South and St. James took to social media following the three schools’ victories, which came at Koch Arena in Wichita.
“Woke up a State Champion! #Thankful,” said Micah Kirkwood, a senior at SM South wrote soon after the game.
Woke up a State Champion! #Thankful pic.twitter.com/Gda0m75KD6
— Micah_Kirkwood (@MicahKirkwood1) March 15, 2026
Olathe North received a warm welcome home.
Welcome the newest state champs back home Eagle Nation!
Olathe North 6A State Basketball Champions 🏆. We appreciate the special welcome back home to the “City of Champions!” pic.twitter.com/8xD2R0LePq
— Josh Price, CAA (@ADPriceON) March 15, 2026
Coaches of teams Olathe North defeated also congratulated the Eagles in the aftermath of their first-ever win.
Congratulations to 2026 6A State Champions @OlatheNorthBB! What an impressive run thru the postseason they had. Super talented team who were very well-coached & on an absolute mission! If we have to lose, I always want it to be to the eventual champion like that.
— Brett Flory (@coachbrettflory) March 15, 2026
One St. James Academy champion is already looking ahead to next season.
STATE CHAMPS🏆 I am so thankful to be apart of this group!! Now time to build off of this season. @Thatsnellguy pic.twitter.com/hBbKVlbjCt
— Caroline Rueger (@caroline_rueger) March 18, 2026
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