photo by: Chance Parker

Lawrence senior Zeke Mayo defends the shot from Free State junior Mozae Downing on Friday at FSHS. Lawrence won at Free State 56-40 Friday, Feb. 19, 2021.

Lawrence High’s boys basketball team swept the top honors on the All-Sunflower League basketball selections, which were announced on Sunday.

Senior guard Zeke Mayo was named the boys basketball player of the year, while Lawrence’s Mike Lewis garnered a coach of the year selection. It was a much-deserved sweep for the Lions, who went 20-2 on the year and made it all the way to the Class 6A semifinals before falling to eventual champion Blue Valley North.

Lawrence won all 13 of its game during Sunflower League play to secure a third consecutive league title, which includes two outright crowns over that span. LHS also set a program record by earning its seventh consecutive trip to the state tournament, besting a stretch of six straight state berths previously accomplished between 1916-1922.

Mayo, who also earned a first-team selection, put together a stellar senior season. He averaged 21.2 points per game to go along with an average of 6.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 steals per contest. Mayo scored a season-high 41 points in his final game as a Lion, which was highlighted by a 29-point outburst in the fourth quarter.

Lawrence junior Pearse Long earned a second-team selection after averaging 9.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per outing. Senior Jackson Dooley, junior Truman Juelsgaard and junior Avion Nelson all were named to the honorable mention team.

Free State’s boys basketball team was also well-represented on the All-Sunflower League squad after another strong season. The Firebirds (20-4) also fell in the Class 6A semifinals, making it to the state tourney for the fifth year in a row and setting a program record for most wins in a season.

Junior point guard Mozae Downing was named to the first team to lead the way for Free State. He set the single-game record for assists with 11 during a lopsided victory over Shawnee Heights on Jan. 27. Downing averaged six assists per contest during his third season running the FSHS offense.

Junior Cooper Jackson made the second team, thanks in large part to his active hands on the defensive end. Jackson set the school record for steals in a season with 60 this year, which edged out Evan Manning’s mark of 58 steals in a single season.

Senior Kris Daniels, senior Andrew Piper and sophomore Jailen Thompson all earned an honorable-mention selection for the Firebirds.

On the girls side, Free State senior Shannon Clarke was the only local player to make one of the top three teams. She was named to the first team after averaging 13.9 points per game to go along with 5.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per contest. FSHS senior Evy Harrell was named to the honorable mention team.

Lawrence High players Lucy Hardy, Serenity Keo and Amaya Marshall all made the honorable mention squad as well.

All-Sunflower League selections for 2020-21 season

Boys player of the year: Zeke Mayo, Lawrence

Boys coach of the year: Mike Lewis, Lawrence

FSHS/LHS selections

First team: Zeke Mayo, LHS; Mozae Downing, FS.

Second team: Cooper Jackson, FSHS; Pearse Long, LHS.

Third team: None

Honorable mention: Truman Juelsgaard, LHS; Jackson Dooley, LHS; Avion Nelson, LHS; Kris Daniels, FS; Andrew Piper, FS; Jailen Thompson, FS.

Girls player of the year: Kennedy Taylor, SM Northwest

Girls coach of the year: Tyler Stewart, SM Northwest.

FSHS/LHS selections

First team: Shannon Clarke, FSHS.

Second team: None

Third team: None

Honorable mention: Lucy Hardy, LHS; Serenity Keo, LHS; Amaya Marshall, LHS; Evy Harrell, FSHS.