photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Zaxton King puts up a shot during a game at Shawnee Mission South on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas.

Overland Park – Lawrence High senior star Zaxton King, milking the clock down from 56 seconds, nailed arguably the gutsiest 3-point basket of his career to complete a 38-point performance and upset Shawnee Mission South 62-60 on the road Tuesday night.

LHS (4-11), upsetting the Raiders (9-6) for back-to-back Sunflower League wins, trailed SM South most of the night but never bowed out. When junior Jadon Sautter buried a free-throw to complete his and-one basket placing the Raiders up 60-59 with a minute left – the shot.

Premeditated during a timeout, LHS head coach Nick Wood and King plotted out the scenario well in advance as the Lions chased SM South throughout the fourth quarter. The Lions’ stellar fourth-quarter defense, allowing just three successful attempts at the rim by SM South, set up the big play.

“I kinda knew,” King, who let the clock roll down from 56 seconds to nine seconds before pulling the trigger, said. “I was honestly surprised they let us get it down from a minute.”

The big play capped what was arguably the most-improved performance by LHS, with senior Gordon Fineday (10 points), junior Avery Johnson (six points), junior Banks Bowen (four points) and sophomore Josh Galbreath (four points) filling the gaps.

The Lions raced out to a 9-2 start with all three – Avery, King and Fineday – burying 3-point baskets and forcing SM South to burn a timeout.

SM South junior Calen Gregory (13 points), jumpstarting his offense with seven first-quarter points, stirred things up for a 16-13 SM South lead heading into the second quarter.

Fellow junior Brody Featherston went shot-for-shot with King behind the arc in the second quarter, helping SM South climb to a 10-point lead midway toward the break. Lifting LHS late in the half, Fineday knocked down two big 3-point baskets with under two minutes to go.

Wood said LHS, down 34-29 at halftime, said attitudes on the bench never weakened.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High head boys basketball coach Nick Wood pleads his case with an official Lawrence High sophomore Josh Galbreath defends a shot from Shawnee Mission South junior Jadon Sautter during a game at Shawnee Mission South on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas.

“The message all along was, ‘Hey, hang around,'” Wood said. “Those guys continued to give themselves a chance to go win a basketball game. It’s so rewarding as a coach to see that growth and, more importantly, the work they put into it pay off.”

King gave his Lions every reason to hang around, too. The senior strung together 10 points in the third quarter to combat a 3-point barrage by Gregory, Sautter and sophomore Drake DeBaun that totaled 15 points for the Raiders, who led 53-42 when the third quarter wrapped.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Josh Galbreath defends a shot from Shawnee Mission South junior Jadon Sautter during a game at Shawnee Mission South on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas.

The fourth quarter saw LHS lock off SM South from the arc, denying their sharpshooters to outscore their opponents 20-7 through the final eight minutes of the ballgame. King said the late urgency fueled the Lions on both ends.

“It was huge,” King said. “They played very aggressively, especially with drawing fouls and stuff, especially Josh and Banks. They were very aggressive attacking the rim.”

Next, LHS travels to Olathe Northwest on Friday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Zaxton King puts up a shot during a game at Shawnee Mission South on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Josh Galbreath defends a shot from Shawnee Mission South junior Jadon Sautter during a game at Shawnee Mission South on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Josh Galbreath (21) gets set for tipoff during a game at Shawnee Mission South on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Zaxton King looks for an open lane during a game at Shawnee Mission South on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High head boys basketball coach Nick Wood watches a play develop during a game at Shawnee Mission South on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas.

BOX SCORE:

LHS 13 16 13 20 – 62

SM South 16 18 19 7 – 60

Lawrence High (62) Zaxton King 14-18 4-4 38; Avery Johnson 2-4 0-0 6; Banks Bowen 1-2 2-4 4; Gordon Fineday 3-4 1-2 10; Josh Galbreath 2-4 0-1 4. Totals: 22-35 7-11 62.

Shawnee Mission South (60) Calen Gregory 5-6 0-0 13; Brody Featherston 3-11 0-0 9; Drake DeBaun 3-8 2-2 10; Ben Allen 0-2 1-2 1; Jadon Sautter 8-12 1-1 19. Totals: 23-46 4-5 60.

3-point goals: LHS: 11-20 (); SM South: 10-20 (). Turnovers: LHS 8, SM South 9. Fouled Out: None.

Second-quarter struggles hurt LHS girls at SM South

A late run in the second quarter gave Shawnee Mission South everything it needed to take care of the Lawrence High girls basketball team 69-28 on Tuesday night.

Seniors Azailah Funches and Cameryn Smith, finishing the contest with 14 points apiece, were just two of four Raiders (14-0) who dipped into double-digit scoring.

LHS senior Destiny Savannah (nine team-high points) claimed the first points of the evening, burying a 3-point basket seconds after tipoff, as the Lions (8-7) kept the pace with the Raiders early on.

LHS coach Jeff Dickson said his team didn’t shy away from the opportunity to test an unbeaten opponent.

“We fought our tails off,” LHS Dickson said. “I am so proud of our kids, their toughness, their leadership and their hearts.”

The Lions struggled to capitalize on six early SM South turnovers and trailed 12-7 in the second quarter. Even with four more turnovers, SM South outproduced LHS 19-8 in the second quarter behind 12 combined points by Funches and senior Jocelyn Moore (11 points).

Unable to overcome SM South’s full-court press, LHS hardly generated any momentum heading into the break save for a deep 3-pointer by Clark. Returning to the floor down 31-15, LHS never recovered from their second-quarter slump to test the Raiders.

Funches led a 10-2 run to begin the third quarter and SM South never looked back, rolling to a 41-point finish.

LHS travels to Olathe Northwest on Friday. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.

BOX SCORE:

LHS 7 8 10 3 – 28

SM South 12 19 22 16 – 69

Lawrence High (28) Emma Roman Nose 2-4 0-0 4; Destiny Savannah 3-6 1-2 9; Delilah Barnes 1-3 0-0 2; Cami Nauholz 2-4 1-2 5; Cyrenity Hardy 0-1 0-0 -. Totals: 11-26 3-6 28.

Shawnee Mission South (69) Jocelyn Moore 4-7 2-2 11; Azailah Funches 6-9 1-2 14; Cameryn Smith 6-8 2-2 14; Laila Berndt 4-7 0-0 9; Ashley VanElders 5-6 2-2 13. Totals: 28-45 8-9 69.

3-point goals: LHS: 3-8 (); SM South: 5-11 (). Turnovers: LHS 16, SM South 13. Fouled Out: None.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Cyrenity Hardy watches the ball during a game at Shawnee Mission South on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas.