Lawrence High’s boys basketball team went into winter break with a modest 3-2 record, but the Lions have looked liked a new team in the new year.

LHS started 2005 with a victory Friday at third-ranked Leavenworth, then proved that was no fluke Tuesday when it handed Shawnee Mission Northwest its first loss of the season, 60-43 at LHS.

“That’s two really quality wins,” said Lions coach Chris Davis, whose team improved to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the Sunflower League. “After Christmas break, we saw some things coming together.”

SMNW coach Ben Meseke saw his team stumble to 5-1 and 2-1 after a perfect 5-0 start. What did the Lions do to the Cougars that no one else had?

“Everything,” Meseke said. “They got to loose balls and outrebounded us. They outshot us. When I saw what they did to Leavenworth, I knew they were for real.”

SMNW took an 11-4 lead early Tuesday, but LHS reserve Ian Handshy stopped a 7-0 Cougar run when he scored and was fouled. The senior forward failed to convert a three-point play, but after Chance Riley missed a putback, Handshy tipped the rebound to a teammate and then scored again to cut the deficit to 11-8.

That four-point possession started a 10-0 run that gave the Lions a 14-11 lead after one quarter.

“Without a doubt, Ian was the spark that turned the game around,” Davis said. “He’s a big, strong kid who really plays hard.”

Senior center Tony Anderson also scored four points in the 10-0 spurt.

“We weren’t as intense as we should have been early. Ian came in and played really physical,” Anderson said of his backup. “He didn’t let anybody box him out. That brought up our intensity a lot more.”

Anderson finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds.

“He’s the best big man we’ve seen so far this season,” Meseke said.

LHS made another 10-0 run, which was capped by Tyler Knight’s three-pointer, and took a 31-19 lead late in the second quarter. The Lions led, 31-21, at the break.

Northwest’s leading scorer, all-league guard Tyler Fruehling, was held scoreless until he sank a three-pointer with 5:48 left in the third quarter. Fruehling’s first basket was part of a 10-2 run that cut Lawrence’s lead to 33-31 with 5:26 left in the third. Riley answered with a three-pointer for LHS that started a 12-2 spurt.

6Sports video: LHS continues winning ways Photo Gallery: Lawrence High vs. Shawnee Mission Northwest

SM Northwest girls 59, Lawrence 46

Lawrence junior Drew Huff scored a career-high 22 points, but the Lions struggled with senior post player Megan Klingler in foul trouble most of the night.

“Depth is definitely a problem for us,” LHS coach Kristin Mallory said. “When Megan gets in foul trouble, it hurts our scoring. I had to put subs in early, and we didn’t adjust well.”

LHS (3-3, 1-2) led third-ranked SMNW (7-0, 5-0) 21-20 when Klingler picked up her second foul with 4:45 left in the second quarter. The Lions’ leading scorer took a seat for the rest of the first half, and the Cougars rolled to a 32-22 halftime lead.

Klingler finished with 10 points and five rebounds. SMNW post player Mandy Smith led the Cougars with 20 points and eight rebounds.

Lawrence plays Friday at Olathe Northwest.