Lawrence High senior Dallas Ostronic drives the ball against Mill Valley on Friday, Jan. 13, 2022.

There were about three minutes left in Lawrence High boys’ basketball’s senior night game against Mill Valley, the Lions were down by one point, and it looked like the game could go either way.

Then, the seniors took control and led LHS (6-2) to a 46-39 win.

First, it was a three-point play by senior Lance Bassett, who finished with seven total points for the game. Then, a layup by senior Cole Watson, who also had seven points on Friday.

Lawrence High senior Cole Watson shoots the ball against Mill Valley on Friday, Jan. 13, 2022.

Just like that, the Lions were up 39-35.

And, when Mill Valley senior Brooks Jahnke brought the Jaguars back within one possession with 36 seconds left, LHS senior Jaylon Case spaced the Lions out just enough with a layup in transition, and junior Zaxton King — who led the Lions in points with 12 — sealed the deal with a pair of free throws.

Lawrence High junior Zaxton King shoots a contested layup against Mill Valley on Friday, Jan. 13, 2022.

The game didn’t start out that close. LHS raced to an 11-3 lead over Mill Valley with 3:37 left to go in the first quarter, but that fell apart moments after the Jaguars called their first timeout of the game.

The Jaguars fought back to bring the game within four points early into the second quarter.

Mill Valley sophomore Carter Kaifes drilled a critical 3 midway through the second quarter to snatch the Jaguars’ first lead of the game (17-16).

Limiting King, LHS’ usual scoring target, to just seven first-half points, Mill Valley managed a 19-18 lead at halftime.

Trailing for much of the third quarter, LHS clawed its way back behind a 6-0 run featuring consecutive Mill Valley turnovers, tying the score at 30-30 with 1:15 left in the third quarter.

Mill Valley entered the fourth quarter with a one-possession lead, but LHS swung right back, building up a 39-35 lead with 1:05 to go. Mill Valley added four points in the final minute, but Lawrence pulled out seven to take the game, 46-39.

LHS returns to action at the Topeka Invitational Tournament at Topeka West on Jan. 19.

BOX SCORE:

Lawrence High (46): King 2-9, 7-8, 12; Bassett 2-3, 3-3, 7; Watson 3-3, 1-5, 7; Simmons 3-8, 0-2, 6; Case 2-4, 0-2, 4; Lewis 0-3, 2-2, 2; Harris 1-1, 0-0 2; Ostronic 1-3, 0-1, 2. Totals: 15-39, 15-25, 46.

Mill Valley (39): Fisher 3-5, 2-4, 9; Jahnke 3-5, 0-1, 8; Kaifes 2-9, 0-0, 6; Kemp 3-5, 0-0 6; Matlock 2-7, 0-0, 4. Totals: 15-40, 3-7, 39.

3FGs: LHS 1-10 (King); Mill Valley 6-13 (Jahnke 2, Kaifes 2, Fisher 1, Wiltse 1). TOs: LHS 8; Mill Valley 10; Fouled out: n/a.

Lawrence girls 59, Mill Valley 15

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Brynnae Johnson drives the ball against Mill Valley on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023.

The Lawrence High girls basketball team defeated Mill Valley 59-15 on senior night.

Senior Amaya Marshall, a McDonald’s All-American nominee, led LHS (7-1) with 13 points and three 3s. Sophomore Brynnae Johnson contributed 11 points and senior Lucy Hardy had 10 points. LHS finished shooting 22-of-32 (69%) from the field and 11 of 17 (65%) from 3-point range.

A slow start by the Lions turned into nine fast points between seniors Cyrenity Hardy and Serenity Keo behind the arc. Despite coughing up the ball five times, Lawrence locked up the Jaguars through the remainder of the quarter to take a 14-3 lead into the second.

LHS kept its foot on the gas through the second quarter, as junior Azura Clark joined the three-point club with two 3s, pushing the Lions toward a 19-point lead over Mill Valley with three minutes left before halftime. The Jaguars entered halftime trailing LHS 28-8 with 10 first-half turnovers.

The Lions’ lead easily broke into the 30s after LHS scored 20 third-quarter points, nine from Johnson. LHS kept the Jaguars from scoring a single field goal in the fourth quarter before closing out the win.

Next up, Lawrence will play Spring Hill on Jan. 18.

BOX SCORE:

Lawrence High (59):

Marshall 5-7, 0-0, 13; Johnson 4-6, 2-2, 11; L. Hardy 4-5, 0-0, 10; Clark 3-3, 0-0, 8; Bracker-Sturm 3-5, 0-1, 6; Keo 1-3, 2-2, 5; C. Hardy 1-1, 0-0, 3; Ramos 1-2, 0-0, 3. Totals: 22-32, 4-5, 59.

Mill Valley (15):

Josie Benson 1-1, 1-2, 4; Sophie Pringle 0-6 5-7 5; Averie Landon 2-5, 2-3, 6. Totals: 3-16, 8-13, 15.

3FGs: LHS 11-17 (Marshall 3, L. Hardy 2, Clark 2, Johnson 1, Keo 1, C. Hardy 1, Ramos 1.); Mill Valley 1-8 (Benson 1). TOs: LHS 6; Mill Valley 13. Fouled out: n/a.

Lawrence High senior Daphne Bracker Sturm is jubilant running off the court against Mill Valley on Friday, Jan. 13, 2022.

photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Brynnae Johnson smiles while dribbling the ball against Mill Valley on Friday, Jan. 13, 2022.

Lawrence High junior Azura Clark drives the ball against Mill Valley on Friday, Jan. 13, 2022.

Lawrence High junior Zaxton King shoots a contested layup against Mill Valley on Friday, Jan. 13, 2022.

Lawrence High senior Cole Watson shoots the ball against Mill Valley on Friday, Jan. 13, 2022.

Lawrence High junior Zaxton King competes against Mill Valley on Friday, Jan. 13, 2022.

Lawrence High senior Jude Harris dribbles the ball up court against Mill Valley on Friday, Jan. 13, 2022.

Lawrence High senior Dallas Ostronic drives the ball against Mill Valley on Friday, Jan. 13, 2022.

Lawrence High senior Jaylon Case drives the ball against Mill Valley on Friday, Jan. 13, 2022.