Lions feast on 3A foe

Anderson's 17 lift LHS past K.C. Christian, 81-40

Thanks. Lawrence High’s boys basketball team needed that.

The Lions salved the wounds of two losses in last week’s Topeka Invitational Tournament by clobbering Kansas City Christian, 81-40, Friday night in the LHS gym.

Lawrence High's Tony Anderson (34) shoots over Kansas City Christian's Andy Nichols, right, during the first half. Lawrence's David Freeman is at the far left. The Lions won, 81-40, Friday night at LHS.

“This game really picked up our spirits,” said 6-foot-7 senior center Tony Anderson, who led the Lions with 17 points.

Then again, there’s nothing like a Class 6A school playing a Class 3A school to provide a quick picker-upper. K.C. Christian, located in Prairie Village, has only 161 students. LHS has 1,265.

Why did Lawrence have to step down three classes to obtain a game? LHS athletic director Ron Commons said a late pullout by Topeka High forced him to plug the gap with the suburban K.C. private school.

“The problem was finding a school that had the same opening we did,” Commons said, “and I saw in a publication that K.C. Christian was looking for a game this week.”

K.C. Christian agreed.

“They had never played a 6A school before,” Commons said, “and they felt they had nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

Both teams started slowly — LHS led 15-5 at the end of the first quarter — then the Lions blew it open with a 36-point second quarter to snatch a 51-19 halftime lead.

video 6Sports video: LHS boys roll over K.C. Christian (01-29-05)photo Photo Gallery: LHS vs. K.C. Christian 01.28.05text LHS boys basketball schedules/stats

David Freeman scored 12 of his 16 points in that quarter after being blanked in the first eight minutes.

“David started taking it to the basket,” Lions’ coach Chris Davis said, “and that made a big difference. We also stepped up our defense. We were rather passive in the first quarter.”

Lawrence High's Chance Riley, back right, fights for a loose ball with Kansas City Christian's Zach Kahler, front, and Dan Smalley.

Davis pulled his starters less than two minutes into the second half with the score 60-22. Davis used only JV players in the fourth quarter.

“I think, if anything, this game us a break after a tough (Topeka) tournament,” Davis said.

Added guard Brennan Bechard, who scored 15 points: “I think it’ll do us good. We were able to work on a lot of stuff. It was a good game to get our confidence up and get back in the flow.”

The Lions counted 10 three-point goals — three each by Bechard and JV guard Brandon Lassiter, who nailed every one of his long-range attempts in the fourth quarter.

Lawrence (8-4) now faces a rugged weekend. They’ll travel Friday to Shawnee Mission South, then to Free State a week from tonight.

K.C. Christian 5 14 10 11 — 40
Lawrence 15 36 14 16 — 81

Three-point goals: K.C. Christian 4 (Ryan 3, Casemier), Lawrence 10 (Bechard 3, Lassiter 3, Freeman 2, Barber 2). Total fouls: K.C. Christian 12, Lawrence 20. Fouled out: Riley. Shooting: K.C. Christian 12-51 (23.5 percent), Lawrence 31-61 (50.8 percent). Turnovers: K.C. Christian 20, Lawrence 9.K.C CHRISTIAN (40)Carter Posladek 0 0-2 0, Nathan Ryan 5 0-0 13, Matt Casemier 4 0-0 9, Dan Smalley 1 2-3 4, Zack Kahler 0 4-4 4, Andy Nichols 2 4-9 8, David Istre 0 2-2 2. Totals 12 12-20 40.LAWRENCE (81)David Freeman 6 2-2 16, Chance Riley 0 0-0 0, Tony Anderson 8 1-1 17, Brennan Bechard 5 2-3 15, Kristian Pope 0 0-0 0, Ian Handshy 1 2-2 4, Larry Barber 3 0-0 8, Brandon Lassiter 3 0-0 9, Matt Stiles 1 0-0 2, Cameron Hershiser 2 0-0 4, Nathan Hickey 1 1-2 3, John Novotny 0 1-2 1, Tyron Mumford 1 0-0 2. Totals 31 9-12 81.