photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence freshman Marley Doleman fights through contact in a 45-40 loss to Washburn Rural on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Topeka.

TOPEKA — The Lawrence girls basketball team (5-5) came up a little short in pulling off a road upset over Washburn Rural (7-3) on Tuesday, falling 45-40 to the Junior Blues.

Lawrence’s young squad showed winning basketball plays, and the team has shown coach Jeff Dickson continual improvement over the last two weeks, regardless of the score outcomes.

“I’m proud of our young team coming on the road against a state-ranked team that’s experienced, and we fought all the way until the end and had multiple chances to win,” Dickson said. “We don’t have the same kind of reps as a team like that in those pressure moments. But I saw a lot of winning basketball, too.”

The first quarter was a slow start offensively for both teams. The Junior Blues held a 6-5 lead after the first eight minutes, with four of their six points coming from free throws. Lawrence freshman Marley Doleman scored three of Lawrence’s five points, with junior Cami Nauholz scoring the other two on a putback.

Washburn Rural’s junior Ella Hirschi and freshman Brynn Anderson were big shot makers for the Junior Blues, and after Nauholz’s putback 2-pointer, Hirschi and Anderson went on a 6-0 scoring run to take a 10-6 lead into the second quarter. Nauholz got the Lions back with a bank shot low in the paint, followed by another bucket in the paint after sophomore Macyn Ramsay blocked the ball on the other end.

“Ramsay did a fantastic job defensively,” Dickson said. “She was phenomenal on both sides of the ball all game.”

Nauholz scored two more buckets with assists from senior Jada Baars-Turner and sophomore Zoey Barber, which tied the game up at 13-13. Ramsay picked up a steal on defense, which led to the second Nauholz score, and Nauholz then later got a steal of her own following her tying bucket. Nauholz finished with 19 points, which led the Lions.

“We did a better job of getting Cami the ball and getting her active,” Dickson said.

The Junior Blues finished the quarter on a 6-3 run, with the Lions’ points coming on a 3-pointer from Ramsay late in the half. Doleman hit her own 3-pointer at the start of the third quarter, which tied it back up. Hirschi responded with a 3-pointer, followed by a free throw to take a five-point lead. After that, the Lions went on a commanding run to take the lead for the first time since the first quarter.

Barber started the run with a 2-pointer, followed by Nauholz. Freshman Layla Simmons scored on an assist from Ramsay, who hit a 3-pointer herself with an assist from Nauholz. Anderson hit two free throws for Washburn Rural to cut the Lions’ lead to two points, but Lawrence finished the third quarter with the lead.

It was another game where Lawrence’s freshmen class made a strong impact. Doleman got the offense going and made some of Lawrence’s biggest outside shots, while Simmons was aggressive in moving the ball around on offense and cutting to the basket.

“It’s evident when they’re in the game when it’s on the line — I have complete confidence in them,” Dickson said. “Marley started every game this year, she’s an exceptional kid. Layla has taken us by storm because she plays so hard and works so hard.”

Hirschi started the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer, but the Lions answered with two free throws from Ramsay and a basket from Nauholz assisted by Simmons. The Junior Blues took back the lead with some free throws and a 3-pointer from Anderson, and the Lions were unable to take it back through the remainder of the game.

Washburn Rural took a 40-35 lead late before Nauholz hit two free throws and sophomore Lucy Juelsgaard scored in the paint to make it a one-point game. Needing a stop, Anderson finished through contact and hit an and-1 to give the Junior Blues a four-point lead. Nauholz hit a free throw with 28 seconds left, but Hirschi hit two final free throws with under 10 seconds remaining. The Lions were unable to get another score, and time ran out for Lawrence.

Lawrence is back home against Shawnee Mission West on Thursday before competing in a mid-season basketball tournament the following week.

“We have to get right back on it,” Dickson said. “We’ve got a good, scrappy Shawnee Mission West team, and then we’re probably in the toughest mid-season tournament this year. But I like the direction we’re headed, I like the kids we have and I like the leadership we’re getting.”

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence sophomore Zoey Barber gets around a defender in a 45-40 loss to Washburn Rural on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Topeka.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence sophomore Lucy Juelsgaard fights for a loose ball in a 45-40 loss to Washburn Rural on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Topeka.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence freshman Layla Simmons dribbles the ball in a 45-40 loss to Washburn Rural on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Topeka.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence junior Cami Nauholz works for a layup in a 45-40 loss to Washburn Rural on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Topeka.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence sophomore Macyn Ramsay fights around a screen in a 45-40 loss to Washburn Rural on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Topeka.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence sophomore Zoey Barber takes the ball up the court in a 45-40 loss to Washburn Rural on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Topeka.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence sophomore Lucy Juelsgaard defends a ball handler in a 45-40 loss to Washburn Rural on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Topeka.