Lawrence High's Taylor Bird hoists a shot over Shawnee Mission South's Kylie Washington during the Lions' 54-40 victory Monday at SM South.

Overland Park ? Taylor Bird no longer wanted to listen to her Lawrence High teammates chide her for the girls basketball team’s first losing streak of the season. Haley Parker wanted a victory to lift the Lions’ spirits. Lions coach Kristin Mallory just didn’t want to be in a bad mood anymore.

Mission accomplished on all three fronts.

LHS rebounded from a two-game losing streak Monday night with a 54-40 victory over Shawnee Mission South thanks to tenacious defense and solid shooting that returned after a week-and-a-half hiatus.

“They really came out with a different energy, a different bounce in their step,” Mallory said.

“Defensively, we were like a completely different team.”

Sunday’s 21â2-hour practice had a lot to do with that.

After being given Saturday off to regroup following a tough Sunflower League loss to Olathe East, the Lions returned to the court the next day, where the atmosphere was anything but light-hearted.

“It was intense,” Bird said of practice. “We didn’t talk during warm-ups, and usually we’re really chatty. We took it serious and had a good practice.”

Said Parker: “We didn’t mess around or anything. We got things done, and we got better.”

Parker opened the game with a lay-up in the first minute. Bird scored four quick points, and Parker followed that with a three-pointer. The Lions then successfully converted a lay-up off an isolation play for Parker as the quarter expired, giving LHS a 14-6 lead.

On the other end of the court, Lawrence disrupted the Raiders’ offense by getting hands in the passing lanes. LHS forced 23 turnovers, which included 12 steals.

“I could tell we were a different team from the first defensive possession,” Mallory said.

Holding a three-point lead, LHS ripped off a 14-2 third-quarter run that included eight points from Bird and four from forward Tania Jackson.

Danielle Bird scored 14, and Taylor Bird added 13, with four assists.

LHS (12-3, 4-2) will play again at 7 p.m. Thursday at SM West.