After descending on a two-game slide last week, the Lawrence High boys basketball team needed something, anything to get on track as Class 6A sub-state loomed.

What it got was a blowout victory over Olathe North, 75-50, on Senior Night that players and coaches believed could turn the season around. The Lions’ David Freeman said the game assured LHS of playing host to a sub-state tournament and possibly a rematch against O-North.

“We definitely secured sub-state, and that’s a big deal,” Freeman said. “And we’ll probably get them again, and it’s good making them know they’re not going to want to come back to our house.”

O-North appeared comfortable in the first half as it was able to keep the score close until late in the second quarter.

The Lions went on a seemingly benign 5-0 run to end the first half, but it carried over well into the second half, ballooning into a 13-0 run before the Eagles managed their first points of the second half.

LHS then went on another 9-2 run, and the game basically was over.

“Our goal is always to come out strong the first three minutes and see if they’ll quit, and they definitely quit,” said Freeman, who scored 12 points.

LHS coach Chris Davis said the surge was due in large part to the inside play of Tony Anderson, who finished with 17 points.

“They really didn’t have an answer for Tony,” Davis said. “It was nice to see him break out again.”

Lawrence High's Kristian Pope hoists his hands after the Lions drained a basket against Olathe North. LHS rolled to a 75-50 victory over the Eagles during Senior Night on Tuesday at LHS.

The Eagles tried a few different defensive sets to try and limit Anderson’s offense, but O-North coach Jeff Walton said there wasn’t much his squad could do about Anderson.

“They do a great job of getting the ball in to him, and he’s a smart player, and he understands how to get in position,” Walton said. “He’s a tough match-up for anyone, I would guess.”

In the end, it required Davis taking Anderson out once the game mostly was decided early in the fourth quarter to slow him down.

Aside from Anderson, the Lions’ newly implemented defense turned out to be a pleasant surprise for Davis. The Lions opened with a press for the first time this season in what Davis said was a response to slow starts the past of couple games.

“I think that helped us out a lot,” Davis said. “The last few games we’ve started slow, and we’ve had a hard time getting the engine revved up.”

6Sports video: Lawrence High sweeps Olathe North Photo gallery: LHS vs. Olathe North

With the success of the defense, will they try it again?

“I would say that’s a good guess,” Davis said.

Their next opportunity will come Friday when they travel to Shawnee Mission West to close out the regular season.

Lawrence High's Kayla Nolte, left, and Lacey Elmore jump for a loose ball against Olathe North. The Lions won, 55-27, Tuesday night at LHS.

Lawrence girls 55, O-North 27

The Lions were the other half of the Senior Night sweep, easily defeating O-North. But senior Lacey Elmore didn’t say that it had much to do with seniors.

“Our juniors stepped it up,” Elmore said. “They were hitting threes from all over the place.”

Specifically, it was Drew Huff and Sydney Wilson who combined for seven three-point shots.

Lawrence High senior Ian Handshy, right, takes an elbow to the eye from Olathe North's Travis Dye. The Lions won, 75-50, Tuesday at LHS.

But Elmore and the Lions’ other senior, Megan Klingler, did their part. Each chipped in 10 points in their last regular-season game at LHS.

The Lions got away from the Eagles in a hurry, opening to a 13-2 lead and hardly looking back.

LHS coach Kristen Mallory said she wanted her team to focus on three aspects of the game, and said the Lions did all three.

“We talked about bringing enthusiasm, energy and intensity,” Mallory said. “We had a chance to end it the right way heading into sub-state, and I think we did that.”