Prairie Village ? Holding Lawrence High under a three-touchdown point total for much of the game and employing a gritty, in-your-face defense, Shawnee Mission East’s boys basketball team resembled a football team Tuesday night.

“They’re a very physical, defensive team,” LHS junior John Schneider said.

East outmuscled the visiting Lions, 53-33, dropping Lawrence High to 5-3.

The unbeaten Lancers (7-0) used an effective man-to-man defense, with each player helping to cut off penetration. They limited the Lions to three first-quarter points (on one Chance Riley basket) and committed no turnovers in the first half on the way to just six overall.

“They played very solid team basketball, and they’re very aggressive,” LHS coach Chris Davis said. “That caused us some trouble.”

Lawrence High’s defense was also smothering early. Neither team scored until East’s Michael McRoberts hit a three-pointer with 4:30 left in the first quarter.

Implementing a box-and-one defense, which it only had practiced one day, LHS limited East to nine first-quarter points. Davis invoked the strategy to contain 6-foot-6 center Bryan Nelson.

“He’s a big, strong kid who knows how to play the game,” Schneider said. “We knew he was going to be a big factor.”

At times Riley even faceguarded Nelson with Schneider sagging behind to help with a double team. Although Nelson scored 14 points, the defense proved effective for the most part.

“The kids played it really well,” Davis said.

The Lions’ offense proved less proficient, though the Lancers’ harassing defense deserved much of the credit. Only five LHS players scored – Schneider with 13, Riley with nine, Daniel Green with five, Nick Wagner with four and Jace McNabb with two. The Lions shot three airballs in the first quarter and could not connect on several shots around the basket.

“We did miss some shots underneath,” Riley said. “But we weren’t being aggressive enough.”

The game also featured a significant difference at the free-throw line, with East making 19 of 27 and LHS hitting two of four.

“It’s surprising to me that they shot more free throws,” Davis said. “You would think it would be the same – as aggressive their defense is.”

In the second quarter, East stretched the lead to double digits, and LHS never recovered, falling behind 24-13 at halftime.

“We were constantly trying to dig ourselves out of a hole, and every time we did and it looked it like we were coming (back), they’d score,” Davis said. “It’s just frustrating because it really looked early like it was going to be one heck of a basketball game.”

In comparison to the rest of the game, the fourth quarter featured a relative explosion in scoring from both teams, with LHS notching 15 points and East notching 22. Needing points in a hurry, LHS attempted several quick shots.

“It made it a faster game,” Davis said. “So both sides scored more.”

During that quarter 6-3 forward Bobby Miller, who led all scorers with 20, took advantage of the defensive attention on Nelson, nailing two three-pointers.

Riley remembered Miller from their collisions on the football field, where he starred as a wide receiver and defensive back. He likely will play Division-I football next year.

“He got hot in the second half and killed us,” Riley said. “Every time they kicked it out, he hit.”

The road does not become easier for the Lions, who visit Olathe South – the team that knocked LHS out of last year’s Class 6A sub-state playoffs – on Friday.

“Olathe South is traditionally one of the most disciplined teams we run into,” Davis said. “Everything I’ve heard and seen is impressive.”