STILWELL ? Things started getting sticky for Lawrence High when a manager spilled a bucket of Gatorade at halftime of the Blue Valley Shootout championship game.

Things went even farther south when the game resumed, because the Lions went nearly seven minutes without scoring. Lee’s Summit North took advantage with a 10-0 run, more than enough for the Broncos to secure the tourney title with a 51-42 victory Saturday night at Blue Valley High.

“No I don’t think that was an omen,” LHS coach Chris Davis joked of the sport-drink spillage that delayed the start of the second half. “That was just a really good team out there that beat us. But we played well for the majority of the game minus that third quarter.”

Indeed, the Lions’ three-point third quarter took them out of a game they trailed just 27-25 at halftime.

“We just got in a drought there in the third, and they’re too good of a team to go that long without putting points on the board,” said LHS guard Brennan Bechard, who led the Lions with a game-high 13 points. “That might be the best team we’ll play all season. They’re awfully good.”

Still, 3-1 Lawrence — which averaged 65.5 points in its first two victories of the tourney — had one last chance to get back in the game.

LHS senior guard David Freeman nailed a three-pointer with 3:08 remaining. As Freeman’s shot was released the refs whistled a foul in the paint that allowed Ian Handshy to go to the line for a one-and-one. Handshy made the first free throw to cut the deficit to 47-42.

But that was as close as Lawrence could come. North nailed four free throws to secure the victory.

Despite the defeat, Davis said he was pleased for the most part with his team’s effort — especially against the Broncos’ imposing post combo of 6-foot-7 Matt Brennan and 6-6 Bristan Kelley. The duo combined for just 17 points and 12 rebounds, and that was with Lawrence’s tallest player — 6-7 Tony Anderson — spending most of his time on the bench in foul trouble.

“We didn’t completely take them out of the game, but we did a heck of a job on them especially with Tony out of the game,” Davis said. “We probably won’t face a pair of post players that good the rest of the season. We were determined to not let them beat us, and they didn’t. But their guards stepped up and hit shots.”

Especially Bronco senior Russell Williams, who hit all three of his three-pointers from NBA range or longer.

LHS hit seven threes but struggled to make long-range jumpers down the stretch.

Still, to reach the championship game and perhaps have won had the third quarter went differently, LHS players said they were pretty satisfied with the season’s start.

“I’m a little surprised that we’ve come together so quickly, but we knew that we could be pretty good this season,” Anderson said. “While I’m mad we lost this one, we’re all pretty fired up for next week’s showdown with Free State.”