They might be in a bit of a funk, but with a bunch of long-range shots and a little luck, Lawrence High’s boys basketball players believe they can beat anyone.

“I think it’s absolutely the mentality we’re going with – that when we shoot the ball well, we’re a very powerful team,” Lions coach Chris Davis said.

Lawrence High will began Class 6A sub-state play tonight against Olathe North. Tipoff will be 7 p.m. in the LHS gym.

“It hasn’t all been shooting,” Davis added, “but that’s just been part of it lately. I do know that we are very capable of playing well enough to compete against anybody we’re going to run up against.”

The Lions (10-10) come in having lost five of their last six. Their only win in the span came two weeks ago against the same Olathe North team. Lawrence prevailed in overtime, 84-82, after a shot just past halfcourt from O-North’s Spenser Essman tied it at the end of regulation.

“It’s the perfect test for us,” Davis said. “It’s a team we know we can beat, but it’s a team we know we have to play hard to beat. I think we realize we have to come ready to play.”

The Eagles (9-11) enter sub-state with a two-game win streak after knocking off Shawnee Mission Northwest and Olathe Northwest last week. O-North was led in scoring both games by guard DeMarkis Dobbins. The junior has scored 20 or more points in four of his last six games, including a 22-point effort in the first clash with the Lions.

Meanwhile, Davis hopes Tyler Knight and Chance Riley rekindle the flame. The two combined for just 12 points in Friday’s loss to Free State.

“The basketball hasn’t really fallen our way the last few games,” Davis said. “The way practice has been going, I think the guys are pretty loose about it all. We’ve been kind of tight the last few games, so I’m hopeful that that will help take the lid off the basket.”

With a victory, Lawrence most likely would be looking at a rematch with No. 1 seed Olathe South at Topeka High. The Falcons (17-3) dumped the Lions, 77-60, last month.

“Truthfully, we think we match up pretty well with them,” Davis said. “We’re not looking past anybody, but we’d like the opportunity to play Olathe South and have the ability to redo our last game against them. It’s something we’ve talked about, and we hope it’s a situation that can come to be.”