photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Destiny Savannah (4) looks for an open pass during the first round of substate versus Olathe North on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, at LHS.

Postseason dreams were dashed for the Lawrence High girls basketball team in a 53-42 loss to No. 9 Olathe North in the first round of substate on Tuesday at LHS. Entering the east bracket as the No. 8 seed, the Lady Lions finished out their winter campaign at 12-9.

Freshman standout Cami Nauholz capped her first season scoring a team-high 12 points, which served as the main answer to O-North sophomore Asia Lee’s game-high 22 points. LHS seniors Destiny Savannah, Emma Roman Nose and Miri Pickman each finished with six points apiece in the final game of their LHS careers.

Lady Lions coach Jeff Dickson said the season-ending loss doesn’t take away from his program’s midseason turnaround. LHS, which lost star junior Brynnae Johnson before the new year arrived, won four of its last five regular-season games to clinch a home substate berth.

“These girls never quit,” Dickson said. “They never turned on each other like so many people do these days when they face adversity.”

Two early 3-point buckets by Cyrenity Hardy, and five early turnovers by the Eagles, set up a 9-4 lead for LHS to begin the contest.

O-North found its groove at the free-throw line and fed off two late 3s by senior Bailey Dillon (11 points) and sophomore Lailah Austin (five points) for a 12-10 shortly before the second quarter.

Lee checked into the scoring with a 3-point basket in the second quarter, as Dillon and junior Allie Workman (seven points) chipped in 3s heading into the break.

LHS received a big second quarter from senior Miri Pickman (six points), including an and-one bucket and four free points at the stripe to briefly reclaim the lead. Dickson praised Pickman’s role on the floor and inside the locker room.

“She gave us a huge boost,” Dickson said. “She’s a ball of energy. She just finds these moments to rise to the occasion. It was great for us and for her to have that moment.”

Back down 28-27 at halftime, LHS struggled to regroup in the third quarter. Lee stayed hot on the shot, knocking down another 3-point basket and two more 2-pointers on her way to 17 points before the third quarter wrapped.

The fourth quarter remained characteristically quiet for LHS, with Roman Nose registering one of just two field goals by the Lions through the final eight minutes – the other by sophomore Jada Baars-Turner on a last-second 3-point try before the season ended.

Two more 3s by Lee and Dillon grew to Eagles’ lead to 15 points with just over two minutes remaining, as LHS realized its fate. Looking ahead, Dickson is pumped about returning two key starters in Johnson and Nauholz.

“That’s a pretty good spot,” Dickson said. “We’ve got a group of kids that struggled a lot at the C level and JV level this year, so they’ve got their work cut out for them.

“We’re up at six o’clock, we’re doing drills, we’re doing practice stuff, we’re doing camps and going to play 20 to 30 games in the summer. That’s our expectations and our standards don’t change based on the age of our kids.”

The No. 14 LHS boys basketball team (8-12) challenges No. 3 Olathe North (16-4) on the road Wednesday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

BOX SCORE:

LHS 12 15 6 9 – 42

O-North 10 18 12 13 – 53

Lawrence High (42) Azura Clark 0-4 3-4 3; Emma Roman Nose 3-7 0-0 6; Destiny Savannah 2-5 1-4 6; Cami Nauholz 5-10 2-2 12; Cyrenity Hardy 2-2 0-0 6. Totals: 14-34 10-14 42.

Olathe North (53) Bailey Dillon 3-5 2-3 11; Rhema Stemmons 1-2 2-2 4; Asia Lee 8-13 2-2 22; Allie Workman 2-2 1-2 7; Lailah Simmons 0-0 1-2 1. Totals: 16-28 11-15 53.

3-point goals: LHS: 4-14 (); O-North: 10-16 (). Turnovers: LHS 11, O-North 14. Fouled Out: None.

AREA SUBSTATE SCORES:

6A East Girls: Free State 24, Derby High 71. The Lady Firebirds finished their season at 1-20.

4A East Girls: Baldwin 41, Field-Kindley Coffeyville 25. The No. 6 Lady Bulldogs meet the winner of 3-seed Ottawa and 14-seed Louisburg in the substate title on Friday.

4A East Girls: Eudora 48, Parsons 41. The No. 6 Lady Cardinals meet No. 2 Bishop Miege in the substate title on Friday.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High freshman Cami Nauholz (left, 14) and Olathe North junior Lailah Simmons (right, 24) get set for tipoff before the first round of substate on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, at LHS.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High freshman Cami Nauholz (14) looks for an open pass during the first round of substate versus Olathe North on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, at LHS.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Azura Clark takes a shot during the first round of substate versus Olathe North on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, at LHS.