photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Senior guard D'ema Barnes looks to pass during a December 2 practice at Lawrence High School.

The Lawrence girls basketball team seems poised to surprise some people in the Sunflower League. After graduating around 10 seniors over the last two years, the Lions have a senior group that hasn’t been able to showcase its talents.

The Lions have four varsity seniors: D’ema Barnes, Ajayla Glover, Nyasia Ramos and Brynnae Johnson. While a couple of them might not have seen too many minutes through their first three seasons, they have experience playing under the team’s system. Players are stepping up in their new roles for the team.

“Two years ago, we went 18-5 and lost all of our starters but Brynnae. Last year, we won 12 games and lost four starters,” coach Jeff Dickson said. “I think people see this year as a rebuilding year. I don’t see it that way at all. I think we can surprise some people.”

For those seniors, this year has significant meaning. Not only is it their team to lead after spending the previous seasons behind veterans, but this is their final year playing together. For some, they’ve been playing together since elementary school.

“It’s a little more sentimental. We’re taking everything a little more personally,” Johnson said. “When you’re younger, everyone always says you have time. This is our last time. We have to get it done and get the best season out of our last year.”

The Lions missed the state tournament during the 2023-24 season, but the team is focused on getting there this time around, particularly with their seniors. They want their final year to be special with a state tournament appearance.

Johnson is a senior guard who has long been a contributor to the team. She suffered a knee injury in her junior year but has looked like she did before the injury. Dickson called her one of the best players in the Sunflower League.

Most of the senior class resides in the backcourt. Because of that, the Lions have a strong shooting team with multiple guards that can make a play. Through the first few games of the season, the Lions have been able to move the ball around well and find cutters or open shooters. Dickson said that while the Lions have had good shooters in previous seasons, the depth this year stands out. The team can and have frequently has had four shooters on the court at one time.

“Everybody can shoot, and everyone knows that,” Johnson said. “When you drive in, you know that you can kick it out and it’s going to continue to progress into a play and have a positive outcome.”

The team’s frontcourt, however, might have the most impactful player. Sophomore Cami Nauholz missed time returning from injuries but has made an immediate impact. As the team’s starting center, she has been a force in the paint as a rebounder and a scorer. In her first game of the season, she led the team in points, rebounds and blocks. Her performance is something the team anticipated, as she started for the Lions her freshman year, too.

With a skilled guard rotation, Nauholz is the Lion’s counter punch. If opposing teams try to take away the outside, the guards can find Nauholz in the paint for an easy bucket. The offense often flows through Nauholz when she’s on the court.

Nauholz is one of the underclassmen on the team whom the veterans have been impressed with. The team’s basketball IQ has been impressive, and freshmen like Jayla Colter have already solidified an important role on the team. Dickson said a typical freshman might not be consistent as they figure out the varsity level, but these freshmen and sophomore classes have the consistency of older players.

With skilled seniors that just haven’t seen much time starting and young players taking on big roles, the Lions feel like by the end of the season, they’ll be one of the last teams remaining.

“I think we’re deeper than last year,” Dickson said. “I’m excited for (the team). We’re a fun team to watch.”