STILWELL ? Someone clued in the referees of the Lawrence High-Ponca City, Okla., game that each team liked to play tough, physical basketball.

To the Lionsâ relief, they were just a little tougher, snagging a 50-48 boys basketball victory in the first round of the Blue Valley Shootout on Thursday.

âÂÂIt was a football game,â LHS coach Chris Davis said. âÂÂI think thatâÂÂs the kind of game we like to play, we just needed to be as physical as they were under the basket and around the ball.âÂÂ

The Wildcatsâ height and size matched LHS — except for Lionsâ center Brad Collier, who was six inches taller than any Ponca player — but it was their ferocity that took Lawrence by surprise.

The Lions played their usual zone defense, forcing Ponca into outside shots or highly contested jumpers in the lane. But when someone grabbed a rebound, two Wildcats would swarm the LHS player, resulting in turnovers or a disruption of the Lionsâ offense.

After the first quarter, Ponca held an 8-6 lead.

Tough and physical? Without a doubt.

âÂÂWe expected them to be physical, and they were,â LHS senior Derrick Newman said. âÂÂJust the swarming part of it threw us off.âÂÂ

The swarming lasted all game, but the Lions learned to cope.

After making just two of 12 shots in the first quarter and committing six turnovers, the Lions spread the ball and enjoyed production from six different players to take a 22-21 halftime lead.

Just as important, the Lions continued their stingy defense. The Wildcats had made just nine of 31 shots at halftime and were outrebounded 20-14. But LHS still needed to adjust.

âÂÂWe ended up having to because I donâÂÂt know if IâÂÂve ever seen it that intense and physical off of rebounds,â Davis said.

So Lawrence kept a man back on rebounds to help get the ball out quicker, which resulted in the Lions cutting their turnovers in half. It also helped get Newman involved in the offense.

Ponca had been collapsing whenever the Lions threw the ball inside, but Newman — 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds — took advantage of a spread-out Wildcat defense, scoring six points in the third and another five in the fourth. He led all scorers with 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

âÂÂThey put so much pressure on the ball that it really freed him up inside,â Davis said. âÂÂIt was a game that favored a guy like Derrick.âÂÂ

It favored most of the Lions. LHS held a 42-29 rebounding edge, as Collier had nine and McAnderson had eight.

LHS led 44-36 with 5:36 remaining, but couldnâÂÂt keep the Wildcats from making a late run for two reasons — Ponca started hitting its shots and the Lions missed their free throws.

Lawrence made just five of 13 from the stripe in the fourth, but connected on enough in the final 1:18 to hold on.

Lawrence plays LeeâÂÂs Summit (Mo.) North in the semifinals at 6:45 p.m. today.