WRITER: David Rodish

Lawrence loses 64-54 to Olathe East, finishes fourth of eight teams in Topeka Tournament

Topeka — Lawrence finished the 64th Topeka Invitational Tournament fourth of eight teams after the Lions lost 64-54 Saturday to Olathe East in the third-place game. The Lions finished 1-2 in the tournament, and coach Nick Wood saw plenty of positives in the three-day tournament and a lot to grow on. The Lions have five weeks before the postseason begins with the substate tournament. “It was a great ...

Lawrence boys basketball team continues to develop team identity in 52-41 loss to Highland Park

Topeka — The most important thing for the Lawrence boys basketball coach to see in the 64th Topeka Invitational Tournament was an identity. It showed in Thursday’s win over Wichita Southeast, and again Friday, despite a 52-41 loss to Highland Park. “We’re continuing to evolve as a basketball team,” Lawrence coach Nick Wood said. “We’re turning into a basketball team that competes like crazy, has ...

LHS boys basketball wins first game of Topeka Tournament 72-67 over Wichita Southeast, team's first win since season opener

Topeka — After holding a 17-point lead in the second quarter, the Lawrence boys basketball team fell to a 67-66 hole with two minutes and five seconds left in a game against Wichita Southeast in the 64th Topeka Invitational Tournament. Coach Nick Wood’s message to the team during the Buffs' comeback was simple: stick to what worked. The Lions had built a double-digit lead in the first half by controlling ...

City Showdown: Free State dominates Lawrence 65-9 in wrestling dual

Free State and Lawrence High took to the wrestling mat at FSHS on Wednesday evening in a dual that swung in the hosts’ favor, 65-9. The dual doubled as senior night for the Firebirds. Coach Randy Streeter has coached many classes throughout their high school careers, but he said this class was unique in its camaraderie. “This is the most solid, deepest, tightest group I’ve ever had,” Streeter said. ...

Kansas volleyball introduces next head coach with former coach offering continued support

The evening following the announcement that former Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard retired, then-Oregon coach Matt Ulmer texted Bechard to congratulate him on his career. Less than a month later, Ulmer stood behind a Kansas Athletics podium in the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena as the next head coach of Kansas volleyball. Bechard and his wife, Pam, sat in the second row of the audience during Ulmer’s ...

Lawrence girls basketball senior guard nominated for McDonald's All-American basketball game

One year removed from an ACL and meniscus tear, Lawrence senior guard Brynnae Johnson was nominated for the McDonald’s All-American Game, the yearly all-star high school basketball game that features some of the top senior basketball talent in the country. Johnson is one of over 700 nominees, which will be whittled down to 24 boys and 24 girls. Only four other girls in Kansas were nominated, and there were ...