photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence junior Caleb Wingerd, right, celebrates after sophomore Truth Pope forces a turnover in an 82-19 win over JC Harmon at JC Harmon High School in Kansas City on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.

Kansas City — Lawrence boys basketball started its season with a resounding 82-19 win over JC Harmon on the road Friday.

It took a few minutes and a few shot attempts for Lawrence to settle in, but once the Lions saw some shots fall through the net, the levee broke.

“I saw us be unselfish for the most part, I saw us be willing to make plays for other guys and I saw us be a group more than individuals,” Lawrence coach Nick Wood said.

“That’s how we feel we’re going to be at our best,” Wood said. “From our scrimmages to going live today, I thought we made great progress. We were getting in our lanes, we were kicking the ball ahead, we were hitting the open guy. We were attacking the glass more.”

Lawrence started the game with some 3-point shooting that wasn’t quite hitting, but eventually got under its feet when the team started to attack in the paint. Offensive rebounds were key, and it led to some early points to get Lawrence into a rhythm.

“It starts with hitting a guy first and then getting a basketball,” Wood said of the team’s rebounding. “They can’t rely on watching the basketball and going to get it. It’s a mindset. Rebounding is a mindset. On a shot, you have to find a body, hit a body and attack the ball. We’re not blessed with the biggest height, so team rebounding will be important for us.”

Sophomore forward Joey Dooley and sophomore guard Simon Simien were the early attackers, with Dooley scoring on several putbacks and Simien scoring on drives to the rim to get an 8-0 lead.

“Once we do that, then the defense breaks down and the outside game opens up,” Wood said.

Meanwhile, the defense remained stout and didn’t allow a point, even while the Lions went eight minutes into the first quarter with only eight points. It was a rough shooting night for the Hawks, but the Lions didn’t make things any easier with full-court pressure and numerous steals.

Dooley and Simien scored a bucket apiece in the final minute of the quarter, and senior forward Jaxon Becker scored on a layup from an inbounding play to make it 14-0.

Kenyon Doleman got hot in the second quarter from deep, and the Lions maintained control the rest of the way. He started the quarter with a 3-pointer and hit two more later on.

“We know KD has that in him to be a really special player,” Wood said. “He showed tonight what he’s capable of, and he can even take it to another level. We’re excited about KD — now the challenge will be to do that game-in and game-out. He’s going to be one of our guys.”

Doleman said he needed the first few shots to get warm, but once he was, it came smoothly.

“My shots felt good from there,” Doleman said. “I think I’m ready to make (an impact).”

Wood stressed prior to the game wanting to see the team make plays for each other offensively. From the second quarter on, the offense hit a stride as the Lions were moving themselves and the ball around.

“We have to work together to get open looks,” Doleman said. “We did a good job of moving the ball around and making extra passes. It’ll be very important (for the team’s success).”

Lawrence’s defense found its rhythm in the second quarter as well, thanks to several steals in transition and the full-court press. Defense led to offense, and the Lions soon had a 26-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

The Hawks got on the board with a free throw with 4:13 remaining in the half, but Doleman immediately stopped any sort of momentum with two quick 3s in back-to-back possessions following the free throw. Freshman guard Axl Bland hit a 3 after another JC Harmon free throw, and Bland finished the half with a late 3 to give Lawrence a 42-6 lead.

“We can clean some stuff up — our rebounding still isn’t there, our gap defense needs some work — but I’m proud of what they did,” Wood said.

Doleman started the second half with a 3 and hit another as Lawrence started the third quarter on a 13-4 run. When Doleman wasn’t hitting 3s, Dooley was putting in work on the offensive glass to get rebounds and putbacks.

The Hawks scored a quick seven points midway through the third quarter, but the Lions went on a 10-0 run to finish it, almost exclusively with points in the paint. Senior center Devin Foster had a few athletic offensive rebounds that he was able to twist and turn into a bucket in the restricted area.

Lawrence kept up the offensive attack in the final quarter, starting with a 3-pointer from Bland. Foster scored through contact and hit an and-1 later on to give Lawrence a 79-15 lead. By that point, the clock was continuously running and the Lions had to hold the ball more.

The Hawks scored on a late 3 with under 16 seconds left that proved to be the final score of the game, with Lawrence holding onto its 60-point win on the road.

“Our effort has to be elite,” Wood said. “We can continue to build on that, and I think tonight we saw some of that leading to our success.”

Lawrence will be back in action on Tuesday as the Lions host Kansas City-East High School from across state lines at 7 p.m. at Lawrence High School.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence sophomore forward Joey Dooley grabs a rebound in an 82-19 win over JC Harmon at JC Harmon High School in Kansas City on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence junior forward Kenyon Doleman shoots a 3-pointer in an 82-19 win over JC Harmon at JC Harmon High School in Kansas City on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence sophomore DaMarre Cunningham passes the ball in an 82-19 win over JC Harmon at JC Harmon High School in Kansas City on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence senior center Devin Foster goes up for a shot in an 82-19 win over JC Harmon at JC Harmon High School in Kansas City on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence senior Khyree McGee drives through contact in an 82-19 win over JC Harmon at JC Harmon High School in Kansas City on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence sophomore guard Simon Simien starts a layup in an 82-19 win over JC Harmon at JC Harmon High School in Kansas City on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.