Unlike the first game of the season for Lawrence High’s boys basketball team, not much went right in the first few minutes on Tuesday against Grandview (Mo.) in the first round of the Blue Valley Shootout.


The Bulldogs couldn’t miss from the field, drilling their first four shots. And the Lions, they struggled shooting and they had problems with turnovers.


But even with a slow start that helped Grandview take a 12-point lead in the second quarter, the Lions never panicked and eventually climbed their way to a 62-50 victory.


The Lions only returned two starters from last season’s state runner-up squad, and two more players that received regular minutes in the rotation. So credit the Lions for passing their first tough test and finding a way to win when they weren’t playing at their best.


“It showed that we can handle a little adversity,” LHS coach Mike Lewis. “We listened to some coaching and we just dug in, and did what we needed to get back into the game. Then that momentum shifted and we were pretty solid for the last five, six minutes.”
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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. — Roberts knows how to take over games in the fourth quarter, and he did it again on Tuesday. He scored 14 of his team’s first 17 points in the fourth quarter, leading the charge on the Lions’ comeback win. His shot wasn’t dropping in the first half, but he did a good job finding his way to the free throw line and putting his teammates in good positions to score.


2. Fred Brou, sr. — Brou admitted he nervous in the first game, stepping into a much bigger role this season. He was aggressive and played smart on Tuesday, finishing with 12 points, seven rebounds and five steals. Brou scored on an and-one in the fourth quarter, contributing to a decisive 9-0 run. Afterward, he stepped up on defense, blocking a shot and drawing a charge.


3. Jackson Mallory, jr. — The 6-foot-2 guard is Mr. Glue Guy for the Lions. Mallory is one of those players that does a little bit of everything to help out his team. He played solid defense, drawing one charge, and he just missed out on a double-double with eight points and a game-high nine rebounds. He added a big three-pointer in front of the LHS bench in the third quarter for a five-point lead.


“He was big tonight,” Lewis said. “The way he defends. The way he handles himself on the floor. He rebounded pretty well early in the first half. He was kind of getting bumped around. He learned how to figure that out in the second half. Just a real solid, all-around player who is just a real valuable player to us.”


4. Price Morgan, sr. — Morgan dealt with a little foul trouble in the first half, but he found his rhythm in the third quarter, dishing hi-lo passes to Brou, scoring on a layup and blocking a shot. Morgan had 10 points, two rebounds and three assists.


“Price and I have played together since seventh grade,” Brou said. “I’ve just been waiting to get back on the floor with him. Just the two-headed monster that we like to call each other.”


5. Anthony Harvey, sr. — Harvey knows how to step up in big moments. In the first quarter, he broke a four-minute scoreless stretch with a three-pointer. He added an assist to Roberts in the fourth quarter on a triple that gave the Lions a seven-point lead with four minutes to go. Harvey finished with seven points, two assists and a steal.


6. Braden Solko, jr. — He avoided foul trouble and dished two assists off of the bench. He didn’t take any shots, but played solid defense on the perimeter.


7. Kobe Buffalomeat, jr. — Buffalomeat seemed a little hesitant on the offensive end, missing his only shot attempt. He added a rebound and a steal.


8. Austin Miller, jr. — Played a little bit and he did not attempt a shot. He turned the ball over once before halftime.


• Next up: 6:45 p.m. Thursday vs. Highland Park at Blue Valley Shootout. Record: 2-0.
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