photo by: Conner Becker

The LHS girls basketball team huddles up after a timeout during Tuesday's home loss to Shawnee Mission South.

The Lawrence High girls’ basketball team came up short against Shawnee Mission South 61-57 at home in a heated Sunflower League matchup on Tuesday night. Both teams entered the contest undefeated in league play.

Sophomore Brynnae Johnson led LHS (12-3) with 21 points on 7 of 14 shooting. Johnson knocked down a late 3-pointer with just under 28 seconds left to keep the Lions within a single basket. Seniors Serenity Keo (12 points), Lucy Hardy (9) and junior Azura Clark (10) also paved the way for LHS.

LHS coach Jeff Dickson said he was pleased with the way his team competed with the Raiders’ breakneck pace all night.

“That’s one of the best, if not the best, teams in the state,” Dickson said. “They have talented players, arguably the player of the year in the Sunflower League, in Camryn Smith. We knew going in it was going to be tough.”

The Raiders (14-0) attacked the lane early and led LHS for most of the first quarter, but the Lions capitalized on four turnovers by SM South and headed into the second quarter leading 19-15. Johnson entered double figures for LHS, which was tied with SM South at halftime at 29-all.

SM South opened the second half shooting 4 of 4 and on a 10-0 run, forcing a timeout by LHS with 5:30 remaining in the third. Ahead by 17 late in the third, the Raiders saw their surge slow down after SM South coach Mark Western was charged with a technical foul after the Lions forced a turnover entering the fourth.

“I felt like (SM South) got a little hesitant and that allowed us to kind of chip away at their lead and get ourselves back into the game,” Dickson said. “I thought our kids showed a tremendous amount of toughness and resiliency to do that.”

Fighting late, LHS clawed within a basket of SM South, trailing 51-49, with just 2:12 remaining when senior Lucy Hardy knocked down her second 3 of the game. LHS kept the game within one possession through the final seconds, but the Raiders escaped the Lady Lions at the free throw line.

LHS hosts Olathe Northwest on Friday. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.

BOX SCORE:

Lawrence High (57): Johnson 7-14, 6-9, 21, Keo 3-4, 5-8, 12, Clark 3-7, 3-5, 10, L. Hardy 2-7, 3-5, 9, Marshall 1-4, 1-3, 3, Bracker-Sturm 1-2, 0-2, 2. Totals: 17-44, 18-32, 57.

Shawnee Mission South (61): Funches 5-6, 8-12, 18, Berndt 4-5, 0-0, 11, Smith 2-4, 5-8, 9, Van Elders 4-6, 0-2, 8, Bagby 2-2, 4-4, 8, Staines 1-4, 2-2, 4, Moore 1-3, 1-8, 3. Totals: 19-30, 20-36, 61.

3FGs: LHS 5-21 (L. Hardy 2, Johnson 1, Keo 1, Clark 1); SM South 3-5 (Berndt 3). TOs: LHS SM South 17. Fouled out: Moore, Smith.

Free State boys top Olathe South

Led by a strong second half on both ends of the floor, the Free State boys basketball team took down Olathe South 61-46 Tuesday night to pick up their 10th win of the season.

The Firebirds (10-5) outscored the Falcons (8-7), 45-30 in the second half after both teams were tied at 16 apiece heading into halftime. Jailen Thompson’s 20 points and Dre Daniels’ solid scoring night gave the Firebirds the cushion they needed to secure the home victory.

“We kept trading baskets in the first half and then we just got stops,” FSHS coach Sherron Collins said. “Once we got the rebounding under control, we were able to get stops.”

The second half belonged to the home team as FSHS took over on the inside to pull away from a tough-minded Falcons squad.

With the FSHS offense clicking in the second half, Wesley Edison and Zeek Brown’s defense capped off a team effort by the Firebirds, with Thompson, Daniels, and Dash Johnson continuing to lead the offensive attack.

Even as Olathe South attempted to make late runs to try to get back into the game, Free State wore down the visitors and snagged a key home victory heading into the home stretch of Sunflower League play.

Free State now prepares to take on Shawnee Mission South Friday night on the road. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

“We’ve got to be putting games together,” Collins said. “We have to take a learning experience (from) every one of these next games.”

LHS boys drop tight one at SM South

The Lawrence High boys basketball team dropped its road test at Shawnee Mission South 67-65 in overtime on Tuesday night.

Leading at halftime, LHS (11-4) allowed 33 second-half points to the Raiders (8-7) before falling in extra time. Two 2s by SM South starting guard Daniel Burns led the Raiders (8-7) past the Lions.

Junior Zaxton King led the Lions with 32 points, including two 3s. Seniors Will Leuschen (13 points) and Lance Bassett (7) helped round out the scoring, with LHS finishing 22 of 39 from the field. The Lions’ four overtime points came on a 2-pointer by King and a pair of free throws by Bassett.

LHS hosts Olathe Northwest on Friday. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.

Free State girls upended by Olathe South

The Free State girls basketball team fell 55-17 to Olathe South Tuesday night.

The Firebirds (0-16) received contributions from several players including Cara Jeffries and Addie Fulscher, even though the Falcons (8-7) controlled the game on both ends of the floor from the opening tip.

Free State started strong and trailed just 4-2 in the opening moments, following a hard drive to the basket by Jeffries, but the Falcons proceeded to lead the rest of the way and their balanced offensive attack led to an easy road victory.

Despite of the visitors seizing momentum early, the Firebirds made their runs throughout, one being a 5-0 run that ended the third quarter to put their team total at 14 points heading into the fourth.

From there, however, Olathe South scored several more baskets in the final quarter to secure the win at Free State on Tuesday evening.

Free State will be back in action Friday on the road when they travel to Shawnee Mission South. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.