Overland Park — Lawrence High produced some big-time defense during its version of "Big Monday."
Three days after its worst defensive effort of the season, LHS limited Shawnee Mission North to 11 field goals in a 49-31 boys basketball rout of the Indians on Monday in the SM North gym.
"Our defense is back to itself," LHS senior Stephen Vinson said. "That's the most important thing."
Vinson keyed Lawrence's defense, hounding SM North senior point guard Nathan Winslow. The LHS guard limited SM North's All-Sunflower League performer to three points and no field goals on 11 attempts. The 6-foot-3 Vinson and 6-2 Winslow were the league's sophomores of the year in 1999-2000 and were first-team all-league picks last season.
"It was kind of a personal matchup," said Vinson, who scored 13 points. "It's a fun challenge. Ever since I was a sophomore we've been playing against each other. It's been a battle for three years and he's usually a pretty good scorer. I really concentrated on defense more than offense tonight."
LHS coach Chris Davis lauded Vinson's defensive effort against Winslow.
"Stephen Vinson's defense was outstanding on him," Davis said. "He really took it as a challenge. I'm proud of the job he did."
The Lions (11-3 overall, 5-1 league) never trailed the Indians (6-7, 1-4). LHS bolted to an 8-0 lead, led 16-9 after one quarter and 33-16 at halftime.
On Friday, LHS had its nine-game winning streak snapped in a 65-52 loss to Olathe North.
"I think we were disappointed after the loss to Olathe North and we were determined to come out focused," Davis said. "We looked to the post tonight, looked inside, and that helped open the game up."
Vinson and teammate D.J. Watkins, who scored a game-high 22 points, accounted for 35 of Lawrence's 49 points. Junior Brandon McAnderson chipped in four points and no other Lion scored more than two points.
Watkins had 17 points at halftime on 5-of-8 shooting from the field with three three-pointers and a rub-in dunk.
In the second half, SM North pulled within 11 points twice at 35-24 and 40-29. The Lions closed with a 9-2 run.
Senior guard John Martin scored a team-high 11 points for the Indians, who shot 25.6 percent from the field (11-for-43). SM North made just one of 16 three-point attempts.
On Thursday, LHS will travel to Olathe East in a key league contest. O-East (10-3, 5-1) suffered its first league loss of the season on Monday, falling 48-45 to Shawnee Mission South. SM South was 17-for-33 from the line and O-East was 1-for-2 from the line.
"I thought they were the team to beat in the conference since the beginning of the year," Davis said O-East. "They're extremely talented. The fact we have to go to their place will make it more difficult."
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