Lawrence High sophomore center Chisom Ajekwu (45) attempts a shot over Topeka's Erica Birch during the Lions' season-opener on Friday against Topeka at LHS.

Lawrence High’s girls basketball team returned all five starters from last season, but that didn’t mean the Lions were immune to any first-game rust or jitters Friday.

The Lions started playing their best in the second half and eventually rolled to a season-opening 56-44 victory over Topeka in the Jungle.

After taking a four-point lead into halftime, the Lions opted for a full-court press defense to open the second half and it worked just the way they’d planned. The Trojans turned the ball over 13 times in the eight-minute third quarter, along with missing seven shots.

“They looked a little tired after that first half, after that first run that we hit them,” LHS coach Jeff Dickson said. “We really haven’t worked on a press at all, but if we could just get up when they started going to some of their JV guards that we could do that and it worked and it kind of spread it out a little bit.”

With the defense forcing turnovers, the LHS offense responded with a 12-3 run over the first four minutes of the third quarter. Sophomore point guard Hannah Stewart opened the scoring with a three-pointer, then 6-foot-3 sophomore forward Chisom Ajewku followed with a layup-and-the-foul bucket.

Ajekwu picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter, but erupted for a fast four points and three rebounds when she returned to the floor in the second quarter. It was all a part of a 9-0 run after the Lions (1-0) trailed by seven points at the end of the first quarter.

“She played with a good intensity,” Dickson said of Ajekwu, who finished with nine points and a team-high eight rebounds. “She didn’t finish great tonight but she made some brilliant moves. I thought she played really well with two fouls. I thought I’m either going to get us back in this game or I’m going to look like the biggest idiot in the world playing her that early.”

The only downside to Lawrence’s second half was a long scoring drought in the fourth quarter. The Lions led by 17 points with five minutes left before missing their next 10 shots and failing to slow the offense down to drain the remaining clock.

“To be honest, I feel like we could’ve played a little better,” Ajekwu said. “We know what we’re capable of — like 10 times better. But we pulled through. We did what we were supposed to do.”

Dickson added: “We didn’t have our ‘A’ game but we did enough to win, which is the coach’s dream. You win the game and you get so many things you get to work on.”

The Lions didn’t have their best offensive day — 29 percent shooting on 66 shots — but were just thrilled with the result.

Plus, they had an opportunity to show off their depth when Dickson employed some substitutions like a hockey line change. Off of the bench, Tamo Thomas, a transfer from Royal Valley, scored 10 points, tying senior guard Olivia Lemus for the most on the team.

LHS sophomore Sammy Williams, who filled in for Ajewku during foul trouble, grabbed six rebounds and a steal.

“We were a little out of control and playing a little too fast,” Dickson said. “Topeka High hit some shots. But we turned it around and they settled down a little bit and got the ball inside a little bit more. I was really proud of the defense we played in the second half.”

The Lions will travel to Topeka Hayden, ranked No. 2 in Class 4A-II, at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Topeka (44)

Rylee Burris 2-6 0-0 6, Jasmine Wheeler 1-4 0-0 3, Corieann Emanuel 4-12 0-0 8, Jaryn Benning 1-6 0-0 2, Erica Birch 4-11 7-11 15, Kalyn Sales 0-0 1-2 1, Ke’Shawn Wright 3-8 0-0 7, Sierra Stanley 0-0 0-0 0, Kyia McWilliams 0-0 0-0 0, Morgan Carranza 0-1 0-0 0, Laryn Murray 0-1 0-0 0, Alyssa Stewart 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 16-51 8-13 44.

Lawrence (56)

Hannah Stewart 2-7 2-4 7, Olivia Lemus 4-10 0-0 10, Skylar Drum 2-4 3-4 7, E’lease Stafford 2-6 4-4 8, Chisom Ajekwu 4-14 1-3 9, Sammy Williams 0-4 0-2 0, Talima Harjo 1-5 1-3 3, Tyrin Cosey 1-3 0-0 2, Tamo Thomas 3-13 3-3 10, Leslie Ostronic 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-66 14-23 56.

Topeka 19 4 10 11 — 44

Lawrence 12 15 14 15 — 56

Three-point goals: Topeka 4-10 (Burris 2, Wheeler, Wright); Lawrence 4-18 (Lemus 2, Stewart, Thomas). Fouled out: Ajekwu. Turnovers: Topeka 30, Lawrence 15.