Lawrence High girls basketball desperately needed a victory to improve its position in the Sunflower League standings with three games remaining. Unfortunately, it had to get it against the league’s best team in Olathe South.

The Lions (10-6) played the Falcons (15-2) close, but just didn’t have the personnel to come out on top as they were outlasted, 41-33.

O-South set out to shut down Lawrence’s two best offensive threats, Megan Klingler and Drew Huff, and accomplished the task, limiting them to 18 points combined.

Huff said it was a tough, physical game, but the hardest part was going down to a conference rival so late in the season.

“I think we came out here thinking we had a chance,” Huff said. “It really hurts us in the standings for regionals and sub-states.”

Lawrence kept the game close because of its man-to-man defense, but couldn’t get enough support offensively when Klingler and Huff struggled from the field. Huff had a difficult time driving inside, and Klingler couldn’t make her shots in the post position, going 4-for-20.

LHS coach Kristen Mallory said the shooting woes were because her players just didn’t make their shots.

“I think defensively they caused us to rush things a bit, we got a lot of good looks on the inside we didn’t put down,” Mallory said.

It didn’t help that the Lions suffered a terrible five minutes to open the game. The Falcons leapt out to an 8-0 lead thanks to five turnovers by the Lions in the first four minutes. LHS finished the quarter shooting 2-for-17.

But Lawrence did some damage control and came within three at halftime. After exchanging the lead most of the third quarter, the Lions led by three early in the fourth.

And then the Lions’ offense couldn’t get their shots to fall the rest of the way.

On a critical possession with LHS down by five, Lacey Elmore received a wide-open pass near the lane. Her uncontested layup didn’t go in, and Klingler’s put-back attempt teetered on the rim before falling out.

The Falcons pulled away on free throws the rest of the way to secure the eight-point victory.

O-South coach Steve Ingram said that the defensive play of Abby Crenshaw, typically a junior-varsity player, on Huff helped his team. Crenshaw stayed with Huff most of the game, rarely allowing her to get good shots when she was able to penetrate close to the basket.

“We just wanted to contain,” Ingram said. “If she hit a long jumpshot, we’ll live with that, I guess. But we didn’t want her to go to the hole that often, but she did it a lot anyway.”

Mallory said she was pleased with the way her team’s defense kept the game close, but said the Lions couldn’t get the job when they controlled the ball.

“We just can’t go away with empty possessions and expect to beat one of the better teams in the state,” Mallory said.

LHS plays host to Shawnee Mission East at 5:30 p.m. Friday.