Lawrence High's Jackson Mallory (31) and Anthony Bonner (15) rush to celebrate with Anthony Harvery after Harvey's back to back three point shots in the third quarter gave LHS the lead during the first round of the Topeka Invitational Tournament Thursday at Highland Park in Topeka. Despite a slow start in which the Lions found themselves down by seven at half time, LHS went on to win 78-74 to remain undefeated on the season. The Lions will next face KC Washington at 8:30 p.m. tomorrow in the second round.

Topeka ? Rarely this season has Lawrence High’s boys basketball team, ranked No. 1 in Class 6A, played on its heels, or struggled to match an opponent’s assertive style. But that’s exactly what happened to the Lions against No. 5-ranked Wichita Southeast Thursday evening in the quarterfinals of the 54th annual Topeka Invitational Tournament.

Down 12 points late in the second quarter, and trailing by eight early in the third, LHS leaned on some role players in a critical stretch to recover, stay unbeaten and defeat the Golden Buffaloes, 78-74, at Highland Park High — all that despite a 41-point night from WSE junior guard Jerrick Harding.

Yes, senior guard Anthony Bonner scored 12 of his team-high 24 points in the third for Lawrence, but he couldn’t have taken over without some help. Lawrence junior forward Fred Brou assisted a Bonner three-pointer that cut Southeast’s lead to five. Then Brou, after collecting one of his seven rebounds, pitched an outlet pass ahead for Bonner to make it a three-point game.

Next, Brou made his lone basket of the game by cutting to the rim for a layup on a pass from fellow junior forward Price Morgan, who had just gathered an offensive rebound.

A little more than 30 seconds later, junior point guard Justin Roberts fed Anthony Harvey for a three-pointer that gave LHS its first lead since the opening minutes of the second quarter. The Lions, bolstered by another Harvey three their next trip down the floor, never trailed again.

Harvey, a 5-foot-10 junior backup guard, nailed four of his six threes in the tournament opener and scored 15 points — 12 in the second half. He and Brou are good friends, and he said they talk all the time about doing the little things that matter in basketball.

“Me or him, we don’t really mind being in the shadows, being the role-player guys,” Harvey said. “It gives you a motor, and you want to come out and show everybody what you got… It’s great, because your teammates know they can trust you. We’re just a well-oiled team.”

Bonner, who also chipped in six rebounds, six assists and three steals for the tournament’s defending champions, said that third-quarter stretch turned the game in Lawrence’s favor.

“With Harvey, when he hits a shot everyone gets hyped,” Bonner said. “He’s kind of like our little brother. And we want to see him come off the bench and do really good. He’s been doing that all season.”

The Colorado State signee punctuated a 16-0 LHS run in the third with a steal, layup and free throw that put WSE (4-6) in an eight-point hole. After that, it was another substitute, senior forward Logan Applegate, tipping in an offensive rebound.

Lawrence coach Mike Lewis praised the numerous efforts of his role players.

“We were almost craving that stretch,” Lewis said. “That first half we just needed something to go our way and give us a little bit more momentum. We were just a little stagnant in the first half, and that third quarter that particular series all of a sudden lit our fire, and we were kind of back to who we were.”

The Buffaloes’ Harding nearly carried his team to an upset victory with 26 first-half points, 19 of which came in the second quarter. Lewis wasn’t too pleased about that 41 the guard posted on 12-for-16 shooting. But the Lions only allowed him to score three points in the third, as Roberts (20 points) face-guarded him and harassed him, and LHS made its game-saving push.

It was a difficult way for LHS to open the Topeka Invitational, but Bonner wasn’t complaining.

“Those games with adversity, where we win, that just makes us better,” he said.

The Lions (11-0) face Kansas City Washington at 8:30 p.m. today in the tournament semifinals.

WICHITA SE (74)

Jerrick Harding 12-16 13-18 41, Brycen Cobbins 1-4 4-4 7, Milan Brown 4-12 5-7 14, Stephon Barber 2-4 0-0 4, Regan Oyugi 4-5 0-0 8, Henry Wilson 0-3 0-0 0, Cortlan Nero 0-0 0-0 0, Caylin Loggins 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-44 22-28 74.

LAWRENCE (78)

Justin Roberts 5-18 6-6 20, Price Morgan 3-5 2-2 8, Ben Rajewski 2-2 0-0 5, Anthony Bonner 10-17 3-4 24, Fred Brou 1-3 2-2 4, Logan Applegate 1-1 0-0 2, Anthony Harvey 4-7 3-4 15, Jackson Mallory 0-1 0-0 0, Tae Shorter 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-53 16-18 78.

Wichita SE 11 28 14 21 — 74

Lawrence 14 18 26 20 — 78

Three-point goals: WSE 6-12 (Harding 4, Cobbins, Brown); LHS 10-21 (Harvey 4, Roberts 4, Bonner, Rajewski). Fouled out: Barber, WSE. Turnovers: WSE 9, LHS 9.