Lions claim BV tourney opener

STILWELL ? The Lawrence High boys basketball team had its chances to run away with a big win in the first round of the Blue Valley Shootout.

But Pembroke Hill (Mo.) kept it tight throughout Thursday in the Lions’ 76-71 victory.

“Our defense was working well, but they had a guy in the back of there that finished, period,” said LHS coach Chris Davis about a risk-taking defense that forced 27 turnovers. “We could not answer for him, and so any time they got a ball out of our press it was a conversion.

“(Spencer Ladner) just had an incredible game. He gave us a matchup problem and we don’t have anybody to solve.”

Ladner, a 6-foot-7 sophomore, had a game-high 37 points in keeping Pembroke Hill close all game.

Fortunately for Davis, he had some players of his own that caused matchup problems for the Raiders.

Senior Tyler Knight knocked down four three-pointers, one of which was the first basket of the game, en route to a team-high 20 points.

“We just totally hit the corners early,” Knight said about the team’s eight three-pointers. “They weren’t getting back on defense, so the corners were open and we had some pretty good shots all night.”

Nathan Padia also had a strong showing on the offensive end of the court, finishing with 19 points.

But his most important points came with 16 seconds remaining when he made both free-throw attempts to make it a two-possession game.

“In warmups I was feeling it, just felt like today I could score anytime,” Padia said. “I was just really getting open looks when our point guards were driving, getting the kickout and it was open all day.”

The Lions (3-0) now get the chance to face a similar-minded defensive scheme in their second-round game tonight with Kansas City Sumner Academy.

“I think we should be able to handle their pressure. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy,” Davis said. “But I think we should be able to play into it. I don’t think it’s anything fancy, we just have to come in and just strap it on and come play.

“It’s a style of game we should be able to stay in the game with.”

What LHS is looking to improve on in is rebounding. The Lions were out-rebounded 32-29 against Pembroke Hill.

“If we could win the rebounding war, I like our chances,” Davis said.