WRITER: David Rodish

Lawrence girls basketball falls short of upset road win over Washburn Rural, loses 45-40

TOPEKA — The Lawrence girls basketball team (5-5) came up a little short in pulling off a road upset over Washburn Rural (7-3) on Tuesday, falling 45-40 to the Junior Blues. Lawrence’s young squad showed winning basketball plays, and the team has shown coach Jeff Dickson continual improvement over the last two weeks, regardless of the score outcomes. “I’m proud of our young team coming on the road ...

Free State boys swim and dive feeling confident heading into final month of season

Free State coach Janna Skinner was unsure of how the boys swim and dive team would swim on Jan. 9 at a meet in Lenexa. Coming off a winter break and with a young team, rust was a possibility for the Firebirds. Instead, the Firebirds swam hard, impressing their coach. The following week, they did it again at home in a slower pool. The back-to-back results are a confidence boost to the Free State team as the ...

Inconsistent play costs Lawrence boys basketball in 75-56 loss to Andale

HALSTEAD — Lawrence boys basketball's inconsistent play across 32 minutes led to a 75-56 loss to Andale in the first round of the Adolph Rupp Classic on Monday. LHS coach Nick Wood saw a lot of highly competitive minutes from the Lions, moments where players were fighting for loose balls, playing tight defense and running in transition. At the same time, there were too many moments without the competitive ...

Lawrence senior wrestler Elsten leaving it all on the mat before starting college career

With only weeks left in the wrestling season, Lawrence senior Lou Elsten is making the most of his time. Elsten has his mind set on winning a state championship, something he’s come close to accomplishing the last few years. As the wrestling season enters its final stretches, Elsten is working toward that goal. But he hasn’t forgotten the most important part: having fun while wrestling. “I lost a tough ...

Slow offensive starts doom Lawrence's boys and girls basketball teams on the road at Mill Valley on Friday

SHAWNEE — Slow offensive nights for both the Lawrence boys and girls basketball teams led to road losses to Mill Valley on Friday night. The Lions lost 42-39 in the girls basketball game after a slow start in the opening half. What kept the Lions in the game was their defense, with the team’s young freshmen and sophomores bringing intensity to the court. The Jaguars scored first with a 3-pointer, while the ...