Shawnee ? Remember these Lions?

The same Lawrence High girls basketball team picked to win the Sunflower League in preseason? They’ve stumbled of late, causing a touch of doubt to overpower all that talent.

No worries. LHS found the cure Tuesday, topping one of the Sunflower League’s titans on the road.

Lawrence 64, Shawnee Mission Northwest 55.

With the win, the Lions (3-4 overall, 2-1 league) snapped their three-game losing streak with minimal damage done in their quest for the league crown.

Just like that, all is better.

“It’s the first time since this coaching staff took over that we’ve beaten Shawnee Mission Northwest,” third-year coach Kristin Mallory said. “They’re the power of our league. It’s a huge win in that respect.”

And it’s not as if SM Northwest has taken a step back. Even Tuesday, the Cougars (4-2, 1-2) showed glimpses of the team currently ranked ninth in Class 6A.

It’s just that on this night, Lawrence looked better.

“We came in the underdogs,” junior Megan Klingler said. “We haven’t been intimidating teams lately. We got it back this game.”

The Cougars tried to stop LHS senior Josie Polk, whose 24.0 points per game is among the league’s best. SM Northwest’s defensive scheme tested the scoring abilities of the other four Lions on the floor, as well as Polk’s distribution abilities.

Both passed easily. Polk still led all Lions with 19 points but Klingler (15 points, 12 rebounds), Cherrale Ricks (11 points, five rebounds) and Drew Huff (10 points) each made key baskets, keeping LHS ahead for nearly the whole game.

Defensively, the Lions were sharp. They forced six turnovers in the first quarter alone, and had no fouls in one 10-minute stretch in the second half. SM Northwest threatened throughout, but clutch baskets and clutch defensive stands gave the Lions just enough breathing room.

In the closing minute, the Cougars were forced to foul, and the ball always found Polk, an 82 percent free-throw shooter. She sunk 13 of 16 charity shots.

“Hats off to Josie,” Mallory said. “We knew they were going to key on her. She was patient, she got the ball inside, and it’s because she’s the type of player she is that they played the defense they did. That played right into us.”

SM Northwest boys 69, Lawrence 65, OT

Just when it looked like Lawrence had a victory to right the ship, SM Northwest escaped the plank.

With LHS leading 61-58, Cougar senior Earvin Ray hit a three-pointer as regulation time expired to send the game to overtime. SM Northwest outscored the Lions 8-4 in the extra frame.

“It hurts,” LHS coach Chris Davis said, “because we know we were right there.”

Even after battling a game-long deficit, the Lions (0-7 overall, 0-3 league) were poised to steal the game in the final minutes. SM Northwest (4-3, 3-0) led by as many as 11 in the second half, but in the fourth quarter LHS used a 13-0 run to make a 49-40 deficit a 53-49 lead. Senior Alex Ayre was the hot hand, scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter including a free throw that put Lawrence up 60-58.

Taylor Parker, who led the Lions with 16 points, added another free throw with eight seconds left to push the lead to three. But Ray’s heroics gave the Cougars new life, and they took advantage by hitting clutch shots in the overtime period.

The Lions hit nine of 35 three-pointers, and had four players score in double figures. Still, they failed to find their first win.

“While it hurts, I think it was a step forward for us,” Davis said. “Even though it was a loss, it gives a little momentum to move ahead.”

Both LHS teams will play host Friday to Olathe Northwest.