Lawrence High senior Price Morgan (11) pulls down a rebound in traffic, taking the ball away from Olathe North's Caleb Underwood (22) during their game Friday night at LHS.

Lawrence High senior Price Morgan picked a heck of a way to make up for his only miss in 11 attempts during Friday’s 82-69 victory over Olathe North at LHS.

With the Lions building their lead and in complete control late in the third quarter, O-North’s Alonzo Williams misfired on a three-point attempt that would have cut the LHS lead to 11. The miss grazed off the front of the rim and fell into the hands of LHS guard Justin Roberts, who, almost in one motion, caught it and flung it down the floor to a streaking Morgan.

Behind the O-North defense and with nothing but open court between him and the rim, Morgan measured his steps and then hammered home a one-handed jam from the right side that put the Lions (16-2) up 58-42.

To Morgan, it was just another way to “help the team get the win.” To everyone else in the gym, it provided a reason to celebrate.

On a night when the LHS regulars seemed locked in from the start, Morgan led the Lions to a bounce-back victory that erased the sour taste of Tuesday’s loss at Shawnee Mission North.

“Shawnee Mission North kind of tripped us up,” Morgan admitted. “And even though I don’t like to see that blemish on the record, I think that game kind of got us focused on what we need to do going forward.”

The Lions did plenty of focusing Friday. Four players reached double figures. Senior Fred Brou came within a basket of being the fifth. And LHS shot 62 percent from the floor.

A big chunk of those buckets came on layups in the second half, as Olathe North continued to throw full-court pressure at the Lions, who continued to carve it apart. On one sequence, Jackson Mallory (10 points, four rebounds, four assists) caught the inbounds pass and immediately fired it diagonally across mid-court to Roberts (20 points, 6-of-12 shooting), who took three dribbles and tossed an easy alley-oop to Brou, who methodically flushed the ball for another easy two. Dunks were not the only thing the Lions got a double dose of on Friday. Roberts and Harvey each also converted four-point plays after being fouled on three-point makes.

“When we get everybody to contribute like they did tonight, that’s when we have a chance to be really good,” said LHS coach Mike Lewis.

Added Harvey, who said his squad likes to see full-court pressure: “That’s our offense. Transition offense is what we like to do. And if somebody catches fire, we’re going to him. It could be the manager.”

Morgan, who scored a game-high 22 points, got his big night going just seconds into the game, taking the opening tip-off, won by Brou, right to the rim to put the Lions up 2-0 just seconds into the game.

“Those are (video game) numbers,” Harvey said of Morgan’s final line. “And he’s been producing those for the last three years. He’s the smallest big man in the Sunflower League but he’s got the biggest heart. I’m so proud of that guy.”

Olathe North actually led by as many as eight in the early going, but a 10-0 LHS run in the second quarter turned a 22-14 deficit into a 24-22 lead. That run ballooned to 19-4, allowing LHS to take a five-point lead into halftime.

The Lions’ lead grew as high as 17 before a couple of late buckets by the Eagles set the final margin.

“We were steady tonight, and Price was a big reason for that,” Lewis said. “We talk about having composure when things go well and when things don’t go well and Price is like that in both situations. He’s just that rock. He’s here to compete.”

Adding to the excitement surrounding another big win in a season full of them was the news that Roberts orally committed to attend Toledo University. The 5-foot-9 senior who has been starting varsity at LHS since his freshman year made an official visit to Toledo last weekend.

OLATHE NORTH (69)

Storey Jackson 1-2 1-2 3, Danny Baker 1-6 2-2 4, Alonzo Williams 5-16 10-13 21, Kenny Byers 4-6 1-2 10, RJ Smith 8-16 3-4 19, Haran Thompkins 3-5 1-2 7, Caleb Underwood 1-1 2-2 5. Totals 23-52 20-27 69.

LAWRENCE (82)

Justin Roberts 6-12 4-5 20, Price Morgan 10-11 2-3 22, Fred Brou 3-6 2-2 8, Anthony Harvey 4-8 4-5 15, Jackson Mallory 3-7 2-2 10, Braden Solko 0-0 0-0 0, Kobe Buffalomeat 3-4 0-0 6, Noah Butler 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 29-47 15-19 82.

Olathe North 17 14 14 24 — 69

Lawrence 14 22 24 22 — 82

Three-point goals: LHS 9-18 (Roberts 4, Harvey 3, Mallory 2; O-North 3-17 (Williams, Underwood, Byers 1 each). Turnovers: LHS 14, O-North 7.