Trying to guard SM East’s Janna Graf was a difficult assignment for the Lawrence High girls on Tuesday.

The Lions threw several looks at Graf on defense. LHS (5-9) opened in a 3-2 zone, then switched to a man-to-man, where three different Lions players tried to match up against her.

Graf, who will play basketball at Yale next season, was too much, lighting up the Lions for 31 points off sizzling 11-of-17 shooting. She drilled a trio of three-pointers and converted 6-of-7 free throws.

“It’s tough because you have to worry about her all the time,” LHS senior guard Jasmyn Turner said of Graf. “For me, I was face guarding her, and that made me tired, and then on the offensive end, I didn’t have my legs under me as much.”

Turner, who primarily guarded Graf in LHS’ man-to-man scheme, did a solid job. After switching out of the 3-2 zone, Graf scored 11 points in the second half, as compared to 20 in the first.

Turner led Lawrence with 13 points, while Cassie Potter scored 10. Haley Parker and April Miller each pitched in six.

The Lions hung close with the Lancers (13-3) and only trailed by a point with 3:36 left in the third quarter. A 7-0 SM East run to end the quarter, however, was too much for LHS to make up.

“The difference in the game was the little things,” LHS coach Nick Wood said. “A few times, we don’t get back on defense. A few times, we don’t box out and give them extra possessions. A few times, we lose a shooter. When you play really good teams, the little things add up.”

Lawrence will play host to Olathe East at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.