Lion boys stumble

Mighty O-South prevails, 77-60

Lawrence High’s boys played like kings in Tuesday night’s impressive basketball victory over Shawnee Mission East.

But the Lions performed like kongs in Friday night’s 77-60 loss to Olathe South in the LHS gym.

O-South and SM East are expected to battle for the Sunflower League championship, yet the Lions clearly didn’t have the same mojo Friday they had displayed in Tuesday’s 85-80 victory over the Lancers.

“It was weird,” senior guard Kristian Pope said. “Mentally, we were more focused for (SM) East.”

The Lions rely heavily on three-point shooting, and they missed their first 10 three-point attempts Friday night. LHS didn’t make a three-pointer until Chance Riley drilled one with 1:26 remaining before the break.

Moments later, Riley hit another trey, but the Lions still lagged, 36-20, at intermission.

A 20-point first half is atypical for the freewheeling Lions.

“In the first half, our intensity was as poor as it’s been all season,” Lawrence coach Chris Davis said, “and part of it was the good showing we had Tuesday.”

There would be no good showing Friday night. The once-beaten Falcons dictated the tempo early, forcing the Lions into turnovers on their first three possessions.

“We thought we could go on the court,” Davis said, “and make something magical happen.”

Lawrence finished with 10 three-pointers – as many as they had in the SM East victory – but they also missed 21 attempts. Tyler Knight led the Lions with 18 points, but missed 10 of 12 three-point attempts.

The Lions, 7-3 overall and 2-3 in the Sunflower League, will play next week in the Topeka Invitational.

O-South girls 68, Lawrence High 44

The Lions had no answer for O-South’s Jadhon Kerr and Brittney Rinehart inside.

The 5-foot-10 Kerr scored 20 points, and the 6-0 Rinehart added 18 as the unbeaten Falcons (10-0) handed the Lions (5-5) their first Sunflower League loss in five starts.

“Their shooting was unreal,” LHS coach Kristin Mallory said of the Falcons’ 54-percent (27-of-50) accuracy. “We had hands in the shooters’ faces. I finally threw up my hands. What else could we do?”

The Lions shot a paltry 33.3 percent (18-of-54). Senior point guard Drew Huff and soph forward Danielle Bird were the only LHS players to score in double figures with 16 and 11 points.

The Lawrence girls will be idle next week, then participate the following week in the Firebird Classic.