Shawnee Mission East brought size to The Jungle on Friday night for a sub-state final showdown with Lawrence High, which didn’t have Colorado State-bound sharp-shooter Anthony Bonner. On paper, that was a scary combination, a volatile mix that made for a little uneasiness in the minds of some trying to bury thoughts of an upset.

Fortunately for LHS, none of those nerves spilled onto the floor. The Lions were their aggressive selves, even a little more so knowing that Bonner (concussion) was sidelined.

As for size concerns, The Bash Brothers, Price Morgan and Logan Applegate, laid those to rest. Knocked out of the playoffs in football by Shawnee Mission East, Morgan and Applegate helped LHS to return the favor, 60-45, in a game played in front of spirited student sections from both schools.

A 6-foot-4 junior, Morgan came out of the locker room eyes ablaze, fists clenched, ready for battle. On the game’s opening play, he blocked a shot and sent his adrenaline even higher. Playing a basketball game, Morgan showed why he’s a Div. I linebacker prospect. Most of the time, that was a good thing. Most of the time.

Morgan’s brain will help him gain admission to strong academic institutions. He would have no trouble spelling or defining the word “finesse.” But that’s about as close as he’ll come to it. Demonstrating it? He’ll leave that for others. He’s athletic, all right. He jumps high, runs fast, has a good pair of hands, but it’s his intensity that announces itself first.

If Morgan ever buys a Mother’s Day present from a china shop, he had better do so online, just to be on the safe side. Otherwise, the bill for damages could eat up the money saved from that football scholarship he one day will earn.

“You’ve got to play tough, and that football mentality transfers onto the basketball court, for sure,” Morgan said. “You’ve just got to be tougher than the other guys, and you’re going to get the win.”

Morgan threw his body all over the place to get extra possessions for the Lions. When he hit the ground a few times, he quickly got back onto his feet and in one motion waved to the bench to let the coach know he was fine to stay in the game and did the same when the referee inquired, perhaps having heard a bell ringing from a high nearby place.

As good linebackers tend to do, Morgan put himself near the ball constantly and contributed nine points, nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals.

He needed help battling the Lancers’ size, and Applegate came off the bench to give it to him. Did he ever. Applegate produced 12 points, seven boards and a steal. All of his points came in the second half, eight in the fourth quarter. He hung around the basket for put-backs and was always ready when point guard Justin Roberts drew the defense to him and expertly dumped off to the open man.

“Gate works so hard in practice day in, day out,” Morgan said. “He just wants to get on the floor and play. And tonight he was able to do it. Big game, big crowd, he really stepped up. I’m really proud of him.”

Applegate played football this past fall for the first time since his freshman year.

“We talk about it,” Morgan said. “We’re the two football players. We’re going to be tougher than the other guys. We’re going to push them around. We’re going to bully them and we really take pride in that. Gate’s a tough kid. He wants to get out there and fight. I’m sure you could tell that from watching him play tonight.”

Applegate had plenty of company in that regard from teammates, big and not as big. Roberts played through a ton of contact and kept his cool. Early in the game, defender extraordinaire John Barbee did his best impersonation of the sidelined superstar, swishing a three-pointer from Bonner’s favorite spot on the court: Mars. Ben Rajewski, poise personified, didn’t rush his huge three and always put his body in the right place, even if that meant in harm’s way. Roberts and Rajewski, Morgan and Barbee, they did what they do. Applegate did more than could be expected of him.

“Gate stepped up big-time,” Rajewski said. “Gate is really our garbage guy. He will fight for boards. He will be physical. He’ll get those putbacks and and-1’s. He’s a fighter.”

The fight continues Wednesday in Wichita in the eight-team 6A state tournament. Win or lose in the state tournament, the Lions will fight and they’ll fight together.