Nobody told the Lawrence High girls basketball team it had to win big or win pretty to develop a little swagger in its step.

The Lions just had to win. Period.

Tuesday night against Shawnee Mission North was one of those close and ugly games where LHS was sloppy on offense and had a few breakdowns on defense. The Lions (9-5 overall, 5-1 Sunflower League) trailed most of the game and never looked in sync. All the while, their confidence never wavered.

Instead, the Lions got monster games from junior forward Megan Klingler and senior guard Jodie Cochrane and won a 63-61 thriller in double overtime at the LHS gym.

Klingler scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Lions. Cochrane added a season-high 16 points, four steals and two assists while leading LHS to its fifth straight victory.

“Our team is showing a lot of heart,” Cochrane said. “In the huddle after we get steals or make a play, we get really pumped up. It’s about heart, and we don’t want to lose.”

Said Klingler: “Lately we’ve been playing really, really good as a team. Everyone is doing their part. We’re executing, working hard and putting all the pieces of the puzzle together.”

Playing its third game in five days, Lawrence showed mental and physical wear from its intense stretch of games. Guards Drew Huff and Erin Knight had an uncharacteristically shaky night running the offense.

Too many turnovers led to easy baskets for North and allowed the Indians (6-9, 2-4) to forge a lead.

Lawrence High's Drew Huff, left, and Erin Knight celebrate the Lions' double-overtime victory over Shawnee Mission North. Lawrence won, 63-61, Tuesday night at LHS.

Cochrane sank back-to-back threes that gave LHS an 12-4 lead, but North used a 13-2 run to pull ahead and take a 25-23 lead at halftime.

“We got back in the game with our man-to-man defense, and that’s not something I can normally say,” LHS coach Kristin Mallory said.

North ran its lead to 36-28 midway through the third quarter before Lawrence rallied. Klingler demanded the ball inside and scored 11 points in the quarter. LHS led by as many as four points in the fourth quarter, but Sasha Bowick’s trey with 34 seconds left in regulation tied the game for North. A last-second turnover by LHS forced the Lions to settle for overtime.

A 17-foot jumper by Knight, a bucket by Huff and a steal and layup by Klingler forced the second extra period. Cochrane nailed a three-pointer that put the Lions ahead for good.

“We got a lot of learning opportunities out of this one,” Mallory said. “Not very often do you get the opportunity three different times to end the game. We didn’t end it cleanly in any of them, but we did learn. We’ve got to do a better job finishing out ballgames.”

LHS will play at 7 tonight at Kansas City (Mo.) St. Teresa’s.

6Sports video: Lion boys let lead slip away

Shawnee Mission North 61, Lawrence High boys 59

The Lawrence boys’ loss Tuesday might sting worse than any this year, because this was one the Lions let slip away.

They raced to a 7-0 lead in the first three minutes and didn’t relinquish the lead until Shawnee Mission North (10-5, 4-2) pulled ahead with 1:07 remaining on Dominique Grayson’s layup. Joe Crane tied the game at 59 with a free throw, but North’s Eric Nitsche sank two free throws with 16 seconds left that iced the game.

It never should have been that close, though. LHS (4-11, 1-5) led by at least eight on numerous occasions and was ahead 54-43 with six minutes left, but North closed with an 18-5 run to shock the Lions.

Lawrence High's Joe Crane, center, makes an outlet pass while surrounded by Shawnee Mission North defenders. The Lions lost, 61-59, Tuesday at LHS.

“I felt like we were in control the entire game,” LHS coach Chris Davis said. “What I’m most disappointed about is that I thought we had a chance to go up by about 15 and we didn’t get the job done.”

David Freeman led LHS with 17 points. Joe Crane scored 13 and Alex Ayre added nine. Nitsche and Terrell Dyer led the Indians with 14 points each, and Nick Hawley added 13.

Lawrence High's Megan Klingler (34) hauls in a rebound against Shawne Mission North's Amber Peasley. The Lions won, 63-61 in double overtime, Tuesday at LHS. Story on page 1C.