photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Zaxton King drives the ball during a game vs. Olathe West on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at Lawrence High School.

Another strong first half didn’t pan out for the Lawrence High boys basketball team, dropping a 67-57 loss to top 10 state contender Olathe West on Tuesday night.

Chalking up two consecutive losses at home, LHS (2-11) gave the Owls (11-3) just about everything they could handle from the jump and led much of the way in the first quarter with a well-rounded effort behind the arc.

Senior Zaxton King, who finished the night with a game-high 28 points, was hardly the only Lion getting up shots in the first half. Juniors Avery Johnson and Aden Ramirez combined for 11 points heading into halftime.

LHS head coach Nick Wood was thoroughly impressed with how his group competed against the Sunflower League favorites.

“The reality is that growth is showing, but now we’ve got to get over that hump,” Wood said.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Banks Bowen looks for an open pass during a game vs. Olathe West on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at Lawrence High School.

Seven points by 6-foot-3 senior Madut Bol (14 total points) and four more points off the bench by freshman Colton Nichols helped the Owls regain their footing with an 18-15 lead before the second quarter. Two more 3s by Bol and Sherron Woodberry (16 team-high points) helped O-West claim a 33-22 advantage on LHS at the break.

King lifted LHS back into contention with 14 third-quarter points, with senior Banks Bowen (two points) and sophomore Josh Galbreath (nine points) peppering shots along the way to pull LHS within as much as six points – trailing 38-31 midway through the third quarter.

Wood praised Galbreath, a first-year varsity forward, for taking another step forward against a gritty O-West program. Galbreath finished the game grabbing four of his five total rebounds in the fourth quarter.

“Every single night he battles,” Wood said. “We’re asking him to rebound, set ball screens – we’re asking a lot out of him… He’s learning how to use his athleticism to an advantage, so the growth he’s shown is special and his ceiling is through the roof.”

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Josh Galbreath (4) defends Olathe West senior Jackson Collins during a game on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at Lawrence High School.

Woodberry and senior Logan Schreck (three points) delivered big 3-point baskets to mount a 13-point lead on the Lions heading into the fourth quarter.

Backed by 13 combined points from King and Galbreath, the Lions cut within nine points of the Owls with five minutes to go in the ballgame – but Woodberry, going 5 of 5 from the charity stripe – cut their hopes short.

A late 3-point make by Gordon Fineday (seven points) breathed the final sign of life by LHS, as the Owls walked away with the double-digit victory – but not without paying the proper price, Wood said.

“Nobody can feel sorry for us,” Wood said. “You’ve got to show up, buy into one another and believe in one another and I think we have the group to do that, but there’s no doubt it’s tough.”

LHS hosts Shawnee Mission West on Friday. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.

BOX SCORE:

LHS 15 7 19 16 – 57

O-West 18 15 21 13 – 67

Lawrence High (57) Zaxton King 9-22 8-10 28; Avery Johnson 2-7 0-0 5; Banks Bowen 1-4 0-0 2; Gordon Fineday 3-5 0-0 7; Josh Galbreath 3-5 2-4 9. Totals: 20-47 10-14 57.

Olathe West (67) Sherron Woodberry 4-11 5-5 16; Madut Bol 5-13 1-2 14; Jackson Collins 5-9 1-1 11; Carter Stuck 2-2 0-0 4; Bennett Warren 2-5 0-0 4. Totals: 25-48 10-11 67.

3-point goals: LHS: 7-24 (); O-West: 7-20 (). Turnovers: LHS 12, O-West 13. Fouled Out: None.

O-West girls overload LHS in tough league test

On the heels of a 2-0 stretch, the Lawrence High girls basketball team took a step back, falling to Olathe West 61-17, on Tuesday at home.

The Owls (11-2) caught LHS (7-6) off guard from the jump, leaning on senior Emma Sales’ 19 total points to storm past the Lions in the first half. LHS freshman Cami Nauholz led the Lions with seven points, with seniors Destiny Savannah, Miri Pickman and junior Nyasia Ramos each adding three points apiece.

Sales ripped off 13 points in the first quarter to carry the Owls to a 16-point lead through eight minutes of play. The lone highlight of the quarter for LHS came from Savannah, adding a 3-pointer on top of a layup by Nauholz.

“Emma Sales is one of the best players in the state,” LHS head coach Jeff Dickson said after the game. “(O-West) is a top ten team in the state for a reason. We battled better in the second half, but they hammered us tonight.”

The second quarter saw O-West, even with less of a scoring presence by Sales, stay right on top of the Lions with six points by sophomore Molly Collins off the bench.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High senior Emma Roman Nose (3) and freshman Cami Nauholz (14) try to stop a shot during a game vs. Olathe West on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at Lawrence High School.

Another 3-point basket, this time by Ramos, and a free throw by Pickman – who drew a charge late in the second quarter – were the only signs of resistance by LHS. The Lions walked into halftime down 35-9.

LHS got five points out of Nauholz in the third quarter, but that production could hardly combat another 12-point quarter by the Owls featuring a 3-point basket by senior Scarlett Swaford.

The Owls, ahead 47-15 heading into the third quarter, never looked back. Sophomores Lexi Cooley and Avery Cogdill added six points apiece in the fourth quarter for O-West; Pickman drew an and-one layup down the stretch – the final basket to enter the stat sheet for LHS.

LHS hopes to bounce back Friday at Shawnee Mission West. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.

BOX SCORE:

LHS 5 4 6 2 – 17

O-West 21 14 12 14 – 61

Lawrence High (17) Emma Roman Nose 0-2 1-2 1; Destiny Savannah 1-6 0-0 3; Delilah Barnes 0-6 0-0 -; Cami Nauholz 3-7 0-2 7; Cyrenity Hardy 0-5 0-0 -. Totals: 6-34 2-8 17.

Olathe West (61) Hannah Cooley 2-6 0-0 4; Emma Thomas 2-2 0-0 4; Scarlett Swinford 2-6 0-0 5; Emma Sales 7-12 5-5 19; Jessica Borders 3-6 2-2 8. Totals: 24-44 11-15 61.

3-point goals: LHS: 3-20 (); O-West: 2-14 (). Turnovers: LHS 25, O-West 12. Fouled Out: None.