Lawrence High senior Jackson Mallory shoots a 3-pointer over Shawnee Mission North senior Danny Bradley Jr. in the first half of the Lions' 59-55 loss to the Indians on Tuesday at SM North.

Overland Park ? Several Lawrence High boys basketball fans were crying foul during the second half of the Lions’ 59-55 loss to Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday.

The Indians did not grab their first lead until a Jarrett Hensley 3-pointer with 6:38 remaining, but they were able to lock the Lions down defensively for the remainder of the contest. The Lawrence High faithful felt that the Indians’ defense was a little too tight, though, as SM North was only whistled for three team fouls in the second half.

Between the calls not going their way and shots not falling, the Lions’ frustration showed in the second half, as they were held to 21 points after the break. Lawrence High coach Mike Lewis acknowledged the lack of fouls called on the Indians in the second half, but did not blame the outcome of the game on the officiating.

“We were trying to get to the rim, and that’s just the way that was,” Lewis said. “We had a number of other things that were in our control that we didn’t control. It’s just too bad that we mentally weren’t able to take care of business. We weren’t scoring the ball well, and to continue to shoot 3-point shots and worry about the officiating doesn’t help matters.”

The No. 9-ranked Lions (11-6 overall, 6-2 in the Sunflower League) still had a chance in the final minutes, and tied the game at 53-53 after a traditional 3-point play from sophomore Brett Chapple with 1:47 remaining. However, Shawnee Mission North senior Will Schneider answered on the following possession with a driving layup, and senior Danny Bradley knocked down two free throws to put the Indians back up four with 41.8 seconds to play. Bradley finished with a game-high 21 points.

Chapple — who led the Lions with 13 points — had a chance for another 3-point play with 12.9 seconds to go, but missed the free throw to leave Lawrence trailing by two. Hensley iced the game with two more free throws to hand the Lions their second loss in the last three contests.

Chapple’s two hoops-and-the-harm accounted for two of the three fouls called on the Indians in the second half, and the last one came in the final seconds since SM North had fouls to give before the Lions reached the bonus.

The 6-foot-5 Chapple finished the game 5-for-5 shooting, and 6-foot-7 forward Kobe Buffalomeat made two of his four shots from the field. The lack of touches for the Lawrence High big men was disappointing to Lewis, as was his team shooting 29 percent (7-of-24) from behind the arc.

“We panicked, started jacking up 3-point shots, turning the ball over, not playing as a team, you name it,” Lewis said. “We just didn’t put ourselves in a position to win, and we just fell apart.”

Lewis’ squad entered Tuesday’s contest against the Indians (6-11, 5-3) after playing two straight overtime games against Olathe Northwest and Liberty (Mo.). The Lawrence High coach said that it is important for the Lions to refocus going into their final three regular season games.

“It’s the emotional roller coaster,” Lewis said. “You play really well and have a feel-good win on Friday (vs. Olathe Northwest) and then Saturday (vs. Liberty) was sour and tonight’s sour. You decide what you want to do tomorrow at practice and figure out what you want to do on the road on Friday.”

The Lions will try to get back on track at 7 p.m. Friday against Olathe North.

“We’ve just got to want it more than anybody else that we play, and just play harder,” sophomore Clarence King said. “We can’t give up.”

SM North (59)

Danny Bradley Jr. 8-16 4-5 21, Will Schneider 3-4 2-2 8, Byron Morgan 0-1 0-0 0, Amari Williams 0-0 0-0 0, Avante Williams 2-5 8-12 12, KT Harris 1-4 1-1 3, Tremaine Jackson 0-0 0-0 0, Billy Conaway 0-0 1-2 1, Jarrett Hensley 4-6 4-4 14. Totals: 18-36 20-26 59.

Lawrence (55)

Braden Solko 1-2 0-0 2, Austin Miller 3-6 0-0 9, Brett Chapple 5-5 3-4 13, Anthony Selden 2-4 0-0 4, Trey Quartlebaum 1-3 0-0 2, Clarence King 4-14 0-0 10, Noah Butler 1-4 1-2 3, Jackson Mallory 3-12 0-0 8, Kobe Buffalomeat 2-4 0-0 4. Totals: 24-58 4-6 55.

SM North 10 21 13 15 — 59

Lawrence 16 18 11 10 — 55

Three-point goals: SM North 3-10 (Hensley 2, Bradley); Lawrence 7-24 (Miller 3, Mallory 2, King 2). Fouled out: None. Turnovers: SM North 7, Lawrence 6.