photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Senior Marko Simac starts to drive toward the basket after catching the ball during an LHS basketball practice.

The Lawrence High School boys basketball team had a unique challenge this season. They have to replace 28 points per game.

Last year, Zaxton King led the Lions while scoring 28.1 points per game, 6.3 rebounds and two 2.0 steals per game. With King now playing for the Missouri State Bears, the Lions are replacing that production in the aggregate.

“It doesn’t have to come from one guy — it comes from all of us,” coach Nick Wood said. “They’ve done a great job so far demonstrating the ability to go out and do that.”

So far, the Lions are learning to collectively fill the void. The effect has caused young, talented players to step into larger roles. Freshmen like Joey Dooley and Truth Pope are forced to be contributors early in their varsity careers, and the seniors of the team are having to play their best basketball of their careers. It’s a collaborative effort, and everyone is spreading the ball around.

“What’s been impressive to me with this group is how they play together,” Wood said. “They are doing a great job of moving the ball side-to-side offensively and making that extra pass. They’re good teammates and are putting themselves in situations to be successful, and that’s fun to see.”

For most of the team, last year was a learning curve. It was the first year with Wood as the coach, and many of the players were getting their first varsity minutes. This year, the Lions know what Wood wants on the court. They understand what conference play is like and they’ve seen what it takes to win. Even though the team lost its top scorer, the Lions are confident that the overall team has improved since last year.

The Lions have spread the ball around plenty in the first few games of the season, and they’ve been able to find the hot hand when one rises. At various points, senior Aden Ramirez has hit tough 3-pointers that became momentum swings. Senior Avery Johnson has shown an ability to hit outside shots and pass the ball, and junior Eddie Roman Nose has done it all. In the team’s second game of the season, Roman Nose led the Lions in scoring and was a bright spot in a loss.

“We have a lot of lethal shooters on this team,” Ramirez said. “I think everyone can knock down a shot.”

While the Lions’ record through three games isn’t perfect, the team has shown flashes of what it can look like by the end of the season. As players progress and continue to find their stride, the results will get better. Wood reminded his team that the season is a long process, and the goal is to hit the peak in March.

A lot of the team’s success will come down to doing the little things. Ramirez said the Lions need intensity in order to match up against some of the Sunflower League teams that hold a height advantage. Wood stressed the need for the team to play with selflessly so that the team can challenge defenses in a range of ways. Through three games, the Lions have found ways to do that at times.

The upperclassmen want to create a culture that can last beyond their stay. There are five seniors and nine juniors on the team, and that group garners the majority of the varsity minutes. Part of building that culture extends beyond the style of play on the court and into the locker room. This is somewhere that Johnson said the upperclassmen have made an effort to improve upon from last year. From encouraging the younger players to playing with intensity, Johnson and Ramirez said that they want to make it part of the team’s identity.

And so far, Wood has been pleased with how the team’s leadership has faced the challenge, as the Lions close in on their final game before winter break with conference play right around the corner.

“They’re stepping up, and they’re not afraid to lead,” Wood said. “That’s what we’re all about. We’ve been really happy about that so far.”