The fourth quarter sure wasn’t pretty Tuesday night for Lawrence High’s girls’ basketball team.

The Lions were outscored 17-9 and looked really out-of-sync late in their game with Shawnee Mission West at LHS.

Lawrence High's Mandy Amyx, center, tries to keep a possession away from Shawnee Mission West's Megan Robinson, left, and Kristen Schnackenberg. The Lions beat the Vikings, 57-44, on Tuesday at LHS.

But the bad fourth quarter didn’t matter Tuesday as the Lions had all but finished the Vikings after 24 minutes, going on a 16-4 jaunt in the third quarter that helped them to a 57-44 victory.

“I think they really played well for three quarters,” said Lawrence coach Kristin Mallory, whose team improved to 6-9.

Lawrence didn’t show any rust after having a two-week layoff as the Lions exploded out of the gates with a 9-2 run.

LHS finished the half in the same fashion, breaking a tie with another 9-2 spurt.

“It was a game of runs,” Mallory said. “We were fortunate to be on the better end this time.”

Sophomore Josie Polk, LHS’ leading scorer, led the way in the first half, scoring 10 of her game-high 16 points while Mandy Amyx scored all nine of her points in the half as Lawrence took a 32-23 lead.

“I have been off the past couple games,” Polk said. “But tonight I got into it. I hope I can keep it up.”

Mallory praised the play of her young guard/forward and said that she’s maturing into a better player every night.

“Josie played well,” Mallory said. “She’s becoming a complete player.”

Behind Polk’s two free throws to start the second half, the Lions went on their most significant run of the night.

LHS couldn’t miss while the Vikings seemed to miss almost every time, and the Lions took an overwhelming 21-point lead by the quarter’s end.

While the fourth was pretty sloppy for Lawrence, Mallory said she wanted to rest her starters, who will be playing five games in the next 11 days, including tonight’s game against Olathe East at LHS.

“I was disappointed with our effort in the fourth,” Mallory said. “But I wanted to rest our legs for tomorrow’s game.”

Lawrence 57, SM West 44

SM WEST (44)

Ashley Biondo 1 0-0 2, Ashley Mahoney 3 0-0 6, Hannah Henry 1 0-3 2, Amy Farrow 1 0-0 2, Megan Robinson 0 7-8 7, Rachael Miller 4 0-0 10, Khadian Kelly 4 2-3 11, Marquita Smith 1 0-1 2, Kristen Schnackenberg 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 9-15 44.

LAWRENCE (57)

Leigh DeBiasse 1 2-4 5, Ashley Burnett 1 0-0 2, Shari Lassiter 0 0-0 0, Hallie Fitzgerald 1 0-1 2, Erin Knight 0 0-0 0, Audrey Pope 1 0-0 2, Josie Polk 5 6-6 16, Rachel Severence 1 0-0 2, Rachel Klingler 3 0-0 6, Cherrale Ricks 2 5-7 9, Mandy Amyx 3 3-3 9, Jodie Cochrane 1 0-0 2, Jenna Wilcox 0 2-2 2. Totals 19 18-23 57.

SM West (6-10) 13 10 4 1744

Lawrence (6-10) 15 17 16 957

Three-point shooting SM West 3 (Miller 2, Kelly 1), Lawrence 1 (DeBiasse 1). Fouls SM West 20, Lawrence 16.