Lawrence High, a state qualifier for the first time since 1995, will meet Wichita West at 4:45 p.m. Thursday in the first round of the Class 6A state boys basketball tournament at White Auditorium in Emporia.

The No. 3 seed Lions (18-4) clinched a state berth with a 62-57 victory over Olathe East on Saturday at Free State. The No. 6 seed Pioneers (14-8) reached state with a 63-46 victory over Wichita Northwest at Northwest.

The LHS-West winner will play the Wichita East-Shawnee Mission North winner at 4:45 p.m. Friday. The state final is set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Defending state champ Hutchinson (21-1) is the top seed.

The Lions are familiar with three state qualifiers Sunflower League foes Shawnee Mission North, SM West and Olathe North. LHS beat SM North (49-31) and SM West (67-55). O-North beat the Lions, 65-52, for Lawrence’s lone league loss and worst setback of the season.

LHS has won three in a row and eight of its past nine since falling to O-North.

Lawrence’s last trip to state seven years ago resulted in a state championship. The 2002 Lions enter state with the same record as the 1995 state club.