Once again, it was all about the start by the Lawrence High boys basketball team.

The Lions jumped on Shawnee Mission West with an early 10-0 run Monday and never relented in a 52-35 victory at LHS. The Vikings rallied during the third quarter, but LHS was just too tough — which is what coach Chris Davis wants.

“Our whole season can come down to one word: intensity,” he said. “We started the game with a lot of intensity. Anytime we do that, we’re a darn good team.”

The Lions did the same thing in wins against Olathe East and Shawnee Mission North earlier this month, but Monday was far more physical.

LHS (8-9 overall, 4-4 Sunflower League) frustrated West’s offense during the first half by banging on players down low, pressuring the Vikings on the perimeter and never letting them have an easy shot.

The result? West (10-8, 5-4) was a miserable 6-for-22 from the field and trailed 28-15 at halftime.

Even that dominance made Davis somewhat nervous.

Lawrence High's Derrick Newman sneaks a shot under L.J. Brackson (51) of Shawnee Mission West during the Lions' 52-35 victory. Newman scored six points Monday at LHS.

“I thought we played well enough to be up by more,” he said. “And I knew they’d make a run.”

The Vikings did, hitting six of their first nine shots to open the third quarter and cutting the LHS lead to 37-30.

“They came out hitting, but we always had an answer,” Davis said. “And it was good defense; they were just hitting their shots.”

That’s when sophomore David Freeman delivered the knockout blow with back-to-back steals and four points to put LHS up 41-30. West was outscored 11-5 the rest of the game.

“He just keeps on improving every game,” Davis said. “And he’s a good kid. That’s what I really like about him. He’s just a solid kid all the way around.”

Lawrence High's Brian Seymour elevates for a shot. The Lions defeated Shawnee Mission West 52-35 Monday at LHS.

Freeman was also part of the Lions’ fast start. He scored a game-high 14 points, five of which came during the first-quarter run. Freeman, junior Taylor Parker and senior Bryan Cargill each hit a three-pointer in that 10-0 run that catapulted LHS to a 16-4 lead.

“When we get the open looks like that, Coach gives us the green light to shoot it,” Freeman said. “We just gotta knock ’em down.”

Parker finished with 10 points and senior Brandon McAnderson added 11.

Monday’s win was critical to sub-state seedings as well. LHS is clinging to a one-game lead over Shawnee Mission Northwest for the seventh seed. The eighth seed will likely play Class 6A’s top-ranked team, Olathe South.

“We knew we needed to stay a game ahead of Northwest,” Davis said. “This was a big one for us for sub-state.”