Forget the flair. Who needs it?

The Lawrence High girls basketball squad certainly can be flashy, but Friday’s 65-55 victory over Shawnee Mission South was anything but.

Fewer fireworks, but more points? LHS coach Kristin Mallory can live with that.

“It was just consistent the whole time,” Mallory said. “We played on a real even keel, and that’s good. It was businesslike.”

The Lions (7-4 overall, 4-1 Sunflower League) found stellar production in the paint. Junior Megan Klingler and senior Cherrale Ricks combined for 35 points and 19 rebounds, giving SM South (0-14, 0-5) headaches.

Ricks recorded a big double-double, scoring 18 points and adding 13 rebounds. Klingler had 17 points and six boards.

“It’s hard to stop them both,” Mallory said. “I’ve said that all along, and the girls are believing that now.

“Not only that, but our guards are stepping up and hitting some shots, too.”

Especially Erin Knight. The senior had another solid game, pouring in 13 points from the outside. She’s quietly averaging 8.0 points per game this year.

Lawrence High's Cherrale Ricks (24) holds possession from Shawnee Mission South's Allison Clark during the first half. Ricks had 18 points and 13 rebounds in the Lions' 65-55 win Friday at LHS.

“We’re all stepping up,” Knight said. “I think we played pretty good. We didn’t play our best, but we didn’t play terrible, either.”

Friday’s victory was the start of a brutal stretch for the Lions. They’ll play Free State tonight, SM North Tuesday, Kansas City (Mo.) St. Teresa’s Wednesday, and Olathe East Friday.

Winning the first of five games in a week was a big deal for LHS.

“We’ve got to get on a roll,” Mallory said. “I think the girls are believing in themselves. Hopefully, we’ll step up.”

SM South 74, Lawrence High boys 64

Another Kansas record succumbed Friday to Lawrence High, but Shawnee Mission South refused to do the same.

6Sports video: Lawrence High girls win, boys lose in basketball

The Raiders scored 30 fourth-quarter points to erase a five-point deficit and pull away, riding the shoulders of forward Ryan Jehle. Just a sophomore, Jehle poured in 28 points to lead all scorers.

“We were real worried about them going inside,” LHS coach Chris Davis said. “He’s pretty physical and strong. He’s a tough kid to contain.”

Regardless, the Sunflower League loss wasn’t joyless — the Lions’ 48 three-point attempts Friday upped their season total to 502, breaking a nine-year old state record held by Ottawa, which attempted 464 three-pointers in 1995. LHS still has at least eight games left this season.

Senior Taylor Parker, who finished with 13 points, had the record-breaking attempt, draining a three-pointer from three feet behind the line with 5:54 to play in the second quarter.

In all, Lawrence hit 13 threes. Sophomore Kristian Pope was the hot hand, going 3-for-3 from long range and scoring 13 points, tying Parker for the team lead.

Lawrence High's David Freeman (24) dribbles past Shawnee Mission South's David Kovarik. The Raiders beat the Lions, 74-64, Friday at LHS.

“We’ve been working on his shot a lot,” Davis said. “It’s definitely gotten better. If they lay off of him, he’s supposed to shoot the ball.”

Pope’s layup midway through the fourth quarter put the Lions up 55-52. But the Raiders (9-5, 3-2) went on a 10-0 run and staved off the Lions (3-10, 1-4).

“Usually, my big push is that the fourth quarter is when we’ll make our run,” Davis said. “We have better legs and use so many kids. It just didn’t work out that way tonight.”