LHS boys basketball advances to BV Shootout title game

It never fails year after year. Lawrence High’s boys basketball team locked in another close game against Topeka Highland Park.


The two schools have faced each other five times over the past four seasons, and the latest chapter was another memorable contest, with the Lions winning 72-64 in overtime to advance to the Blue Valley Shootout championship game.


One of the big reasons the Lions have a chance to repeat as champions in the BV Shootout is the remarkable play by senior point guard Justin Roberts. Only eight months removed from tearing a ligament in his left knee, Roberts has averaged 25 points per game, including scoring a career-high 32 points on Thursday.


“He’s just such a warrior,” LHS coach Mike Lewis said of Roberts. “The game plan is definitely not to ride him that hard, but he didn’t want to come out of the game. He and I have built that relationship where he can communicate that with that, just with the knee situation.”


With Highland Park’s defense focusing on Roberts in the fourth quarter and overtime, the Lions had a balanced attack in the fourth quarter and overtime, needing every player on the floor to step up in key moments to pull out a semifinal victory.


“It’s hard as a team to keep your composure, and I thought our guys did a pretty nice job of that, especially as tired as you get mentally and physically,” Lewis said. “Just a real hard fought effort and we’re used to that with Highland Park.”
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In case you missed it, we’re copying one of the popular features of KUsports.com, “Keegan’s Ratings,” where Sports Editor Tom Keegan ranks KU football and men’s basketball players after every game he attends. These individual rankings are just one person’s opinion, but it’s a good way to look at how each person impacted each game.

Lawrence High boys basketball

1. Justin Roberts, sr. — There’s good starts to the season, then there’s what Roberts has done in the first three games. He scored a career-high 32 points Thursday on 8-of-18 shooting, the first 30-point game by a LHS player since Anthony Bonner did it in the BV Shootout semifinals in 2013. But he also played great defense on the perimeter, drawing a couple of offensive fouls and a huge five-second call at the end of regulation.


2. Fred Brou, sr. — Brou is one of those players who becomes more dangerous when he plays with more confidence. Playing without fellow forward Price Morgan, Brou scored the first seven LHS points and Lions’ coach Mike Lewis couldn’t remember if he ever took him off the court because of his energy. Brou ended up with 16 points and nine rebounds.


3. Anthony Harvey, sr. — Harvey is known as a sharpshooter, but he stepped up in other ways during crunch time. In the last four minutes of regulation and overtime, Harvey scored three points, grabbed four rebounds and dished an assist. He finished with seven points and seven boards.


4. Jackson Mallory, jr. — Mallory hit some big shots in the fourth quarter, scoring five points during a 12-0 run and tying the game in the final minute with a made free throw. He fouled out with 2:28 left in overtime, but he was strong defensively with three steals.


5. Braden Solko, jr. — The more you watch Solko, the more you realize how much he contributes on the defensive end. He grabbed four rebounds and a steal, and took a charge in the fourth quarter. Lewis said he thought Solko “really, really scrapped and played tough.”


6. Kobe Buffalomeat, jr. — Buffalomeat filled in well for Morgan, scoring four points, including a layup for a three-point lead in overtime. He added four rebounds and two blocks, helping the Lions defend the paint with his size.


7. Austin Miller, jr. — Miller didn’t attempt a shot, but he provided good defense when he stepped on the court, especially at the end of the first half when the Lions had a few guys in foul trouble.


8. Noah Butler, fr. — The 6-foot-2 freshman scored his first varsity points in the second quarter, scoring on a putback. He finished with two points, two rebounds and three fouls.


• Next up: 8:30 p.m. Friday vs. Lee’s Summit at Blue Valley Shootout. Record: 3-0.
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