Lawrence High School senior Ben Rajewski comes up with a steal.

Lawrence High senior Anthony Bonner and junior Justin Roberts are the faces of the boys basketball team this season.

They lead the team in scoring, attract multiple defensive schemes and they grab the headlines. But the top-ranked team in Class 6A wouldn’t be where it is without a strong supporting cast.

The Lions have several players who have stepped into new roles this year and kept the team playing at such a high level. They will all be on display against Free State in the City Showdown at 7 tonight at FSHS.

“This team is kind of special in the sense that we’ve got guys who really accept their roles and do so to their best of their abilities,” junior forward Price Morgan said. “We talk in the locker room, and none of us have to score 20 points per game. Justin and Anthony have done it this year, but any of the guys could have a great game, any given night.”

The Lions (4-0) return four starters from last season, Bonner, Roberts, Morgan and senior guard John Barbee. Senior guard Ben Rajewski fills out this year’s starting lineup, while junior forward Fred Brou and junior guard Anthony Harvey have been the first ones off of the bench.

Rajewski, who is averaging 5.8 points per game, was the team’s sixth man last year, but now he benefits from defenses focusing on Bonner and Roberts by getting open looks for layups or behind the three-point line.

“We just have to kind of prepare to do anything the team needs,” Rajewski said. “I think this year my role is to help score the ball, as well as provide that defensive intensity.”

Meanwhile, Harvey is a second point guard on the court when he joins Roberts, and Brou provides height in the front court. Brou has provided highlights with blocks and a dunk, but he isn’t afraid to dive for a loose ball or set strong screens.

“Just coming off the bench, giving a lot of energy to the game,” Brou said of his role. “Doing the little things that go unnoticed that maybe don’t show up on the stat sheet, but that still help your team get that win.”

During the Lions’ 63-60 win over Blue Valley in the Blue Valley Shootout championship last weekend, LHS used 11 players because of foul trouble, bringing Logan Applegate, Tae Shorter, Kyle Hoffman and Jackson Mallory off of the bench.

Despite being forced to go through the entire bench, the Lions were still strong on the defensive end, no matter who was on the court.

“We already have enough scorers on the team,” Harvey said. “We already have big rebounders. So you have to take pride in defense, anything to stop the other team from scoring, ultimately to get a win.”

“Defense is the best part of the game,” Rajewski added. “I love playing defense. It’s personal. You don’t want the other guy to score on you. There’s so much pride on the defensive side of the game that often goes unrecognized.”

The Lions are hoping that defense causes fits for Free State. The Firebirds (2-0) returned two players from last year’s varsity rotation, seniors Weston Hack and Justin Narcomey, and they’ve received scoring from a number of different players. But they also haven’t faced a team that could simulate Lawrence’s athleticism or speed.

“It’s going to be a real challenge for us,” FSHS coach Chuck Law said. “It’s a huge stage and it’s only natural that our guys are going to be nervous early in that game. You just hope that they get the jitters out in the first two or three minutes.”

The Free State varsity newcomers won’t be the only ones playing in the City Showdown for the first time and trying to adjust to the loud atmosphere.

“I’ve never played in a main-event game before like that, so it’s going to be one of a kind,” Harvey said. “I just can’t wait to get in front of the crowd and show them what LHS has got this year.”