photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Josh Galbreath (21) and junior Aden Ramirez defend a shot by Shawnee Mission East senior Teddy Saylor Lawrence High seniors Banks Bowen (left), Zaxton King (middle) and Gordon Fineday Jr. (right) get ready for the offense during a game at Shawnee Mission East on Dec. 15, 2023.

Prairie Village — The first-quarter spark that ignited Lawrence High senior Zaxton King’s 28-point performance didn’t last for the Chesty Lions in a 67-50 loss at Shawnee Mission East on Tuesday night.

LHS (1-4), opening its Sunflower League slate with a loss, struggled from the field (16 of 39) most of the night and leaned heavily on King’s output.

Mixed baskets by sophomore Josh Galbreath (five points), junior Aden Ramirez (four points) and senior Banks Bowen (three points) helped lighten the load in the second half, but only brought the Lions within seven points of the Lancers.

LHS coach Nick Wood said his team, with time, must learn how to compliment King’s high-scoring tendencies on the floor.

“It’s tough,” Wood said. “I believe there’s kids out there that can make those shots for us. It’s a matter of getting them comfortable and getting themselves to believe in one another … The reality is we had opportunities and we didn’t take advantage of it.”

photo by: Conner Becker/Journa-World

Lawrence High sophomore Josh Galbreath blocks a shot Lawrence High seniors Banks Bowen (left), Zaxton King (middle) and Gordon Fineday Jr. (right) get ready for the offense during a game at Shawnee Mission East on Dec. 15, 2023.

Leading SM East’s (4-0) charge was junior Will Beck with 23 points on the evening, including 6 of 7 shooting from the charity stripe. Teddy Saylor (19 points) and 6-foot-8 center Abdoulaye Kante (16 points), both seniors, added two more double-figure performances to pressure LHS.

The Lions opened the game with three personal fouls, falling behind 6-0 less than two minutes after tipoff. The loud environment played an immediate factor, King said.

“We haven’t played in an environment like this yet, this season,” King said. “Everybody’s new to this (environment) this year.”

King, on his way to 16 first-half points, swung LHS in the right direction with a pair of 3s, and another coming from Bowen sent the Lions ahead 15-14 heading into the second quarter.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Aden Ramirez blocks out the noise during a game at Shawnee Mission East on Dec. 15, 2023.

After a shaky start by Saylor at the free-throw line, East found a groove with Beck in the lane accounting for nine second-quarter points to push back on King’s early scoring. A couple looks for Kante helped the Lancers jump in front of LHS, 28-19, headed into halftime.

In the third quarter, LHS received multiple chances at the free-throw line and managed to pull within 7 of the Lancers on the back of 12 points by King and eight more points between Galbreath, senior Gordon Fineday Jr. and junior Avery Johnson.

A technical foul against Bowen hurt the Lions late, allowing the Lancers to push off in the fourth quarter on eight more points by Beck and four turnovers by LHS.

LHS travels to Shawnee Mission Northwest on Jan. 5. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High seniors Banks Bowen (left), Zaxton King (middle) and Gordon Fineday Jr. (right) get ready for the offense during a game at Shawnee Mission East on Dec. 15, 2023.

BOX SCORE:

Lawrence High (50) Zaxton King 10-15 5-5 28; Avery Johnson 0-4 2-2 2; Banks Bowen 1-3 0-0 3; Josh Galbreath 1-4 3-4 5; Gordon Fineday 0-3 2-2 2. Totals: 16-39 13-15 50.

Shawnee Mission East (67) Walt Jones 2-4 4-4 9; Will Beck 8-10 6-7 23; Blake Hanson 0-0 0-0 -; Teddy Saylor 6-10 6-9 19; Abdoulaye Kante 6-7 4-6 16. Totals: 22-35 20-26 67.

LHS girls mount impressive comeback to defeat SM East

Building a reputation for comebacks, the Lawrence High girls basketball team continued that trend with a 47-40 victory at Shawnee Mission East on Friday night. Down 16 at halftime, the Lady Lions worked out their scoring wrinkles to outpace the Lancers in the fourth quarter.

Junior Brynnae Johnson (15 points) and freshman Cami Nauholz (14 points) paved the way for the late comeback, combining for 16 points in the fourth quarter to send LHS (3-1) over the top.

Seniors Emma Roman Nose (seven points), Destiny Savannah (six points) and Cyrenity Hardy-Billy (three points) each played a role in the second-half comeback. Savannah and Hardy each contributed 3-point baskets in the third quarter and Roman Nose added six points in the fourth quarter to make LHS the aggressor.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Cyrenity Hardy swats the ball away from Shawnee Mission East senior Abigail Long Lawrence High seniors Banks Bowen (left), Zaxton King (middle) and Gordon Fineday Jr. (right) get ready for the offense during a game at Shawnee Mission East on Dec. 15, 2023.

SM East, with seniors Abigail Long (game-high 24 points) entering double-digit figures and Mary Long adding five points off the bench, ascended to a 27-11 lead when the first half wrapped. LHS coach Jeff Dickson couldn’t have been prouder of the way his girls fought back from a first-half slump.

“To go into a tough environment versus a very good team led by one of the state’s best players (Long) and get out with a win is a blessing,” Dickson said.

LHS returns to the metro for the Grandview Invitational at HvVyee Arena on Dec. 19.

BOX SCORE:

Lawrence High (47) Emma Roman Nose 1-2 5-7 7; Destiny Savannah 2-5 0-0 6; Brynnae Johnson 4-11 5-6 15; Cami Nauholz 6-8 2-3 14; Cyrenity Hardy 1-3 0-0 3. Totals: 14-32 14-18 47.

Shawnee Mission East (40) Fina Kessler 1-4 0-1 2; Abigail Long 9-18 2-2 24; Paige Stanfield 0-3 0-0 -; Lauren McGuire 1-2 0-0 3; Ashley Zastrow 3-5 0-0 6. Totals: 16-36 2-3 40.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Destiny Savannah keeps her eye on the ball Lawrence High seniors Banks Bowen (left), Zaxton King (middle) and Gordon Fineday Jr. (right) get ready for the offense during a game at Shawnee Mission East on Dec. 15, 2023.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Brynnae Johnson tries to stop a shot Lawrence High seniors Banks Bowen (left), Zaxton King (middle) and Gordon Fineday Jr. (right) get ready for the offense during a game at Shawnee Mission East on Dec. 15, 2023.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High girls basketball coach Jeff Dickson gathers his team during a game at Shawnee Mission East on Dec. 15, 2023.