As the defending Sunflower League champions and top-ranked team in the state, Lawrence High boys basketball players know they are going to get their opponent’s best shot.


Heading into Tuesday’s game against Shawnee Mission North, the Lions knew what was at stake before their 71-62 loss at LHS, snapping a 12-game win streak. The Indians have a one-game lead in the league standings with three games left.


The Lions didn’t play their worst game, but certainly weren’t at their best. It looked like they were pressing with a few unforced turnovers and some problems creating offense in half-court sets. But even after the loss, they wanted to use it to their advantage.


“Right now, it definitely stings,” LHS senior Price Morgan said. “No one likes to lose. But I feel like we’re going to get dialed in now. I think that’s the wake-up call that we were needing.”


As LHS coach Mike Lewis summed up, “This isn’t the end of the world.” The Lions are still in line for the No. 1 seed in their sub-state and when the final buzzer went off, many players said their first thought was about a potential rematch in the postseason next month.


“It’s a learning experience right now, for sure,” LHS junior Jackson Mallory said. “Definitely motivation for us. We know if we get them again in March, we’ll know what we’re going to need to do and what we’re going to need to tighten up on. It’s just motivation.”


Lawrence’s girls basketball team picked up a 55-45 victory against SM North, a huge win with sub-state implications.


The Lions are the No. 3 seed in their sub-state bracket with three games left to play, holding a one-game edge over Olathe Northwest and SM North. They are also two games back from No. 2 seeded SM West.


Seeding is important for the Lions because they’ve played so well at home this season. They have a 4-2 record in the Jungle this season with their two losses by a combined three points. It would also be the first time the Lions hosted a playoff game since 2008, when the school won a state title.


“It’s a dogfight for the No. 2 and No. 3 (seed),” LHS coach Jeff Dickson said. “We know what a special place the Jungle is. We know how meaningful it would be to host a game here.”
*
In case you missed it, we’re copying one of the popular features of KUsports.com, “Keegan’s Ratings,” where Sports Editor Tom Keegan ranks KU football and men’s basketball players after every game he attends. These individual rankings are just one person’s opinion, but it’s a good way to look at how each person impacted each game.

Lawrence High girls basketball

1. E’lease Stafford, soph. — When Stafford is playing at her best, she is one of the best in the Sunflower League. She proved it again on Tuesday, scoring a game-high 16 points with five rebounds and two assists. She was a match-up nightmare, shooting jumpers over opponents or posting up against smaller guards. Defensively, she knows when to double team and cause havoc.


2. Chisom Ajekwu, fr. — After she was frustrated in the first half with two quick fouls, she dominated in the fourth quarter. In the final eight minutes, Ajekwu scored five points and grabbed eight rebounds. She nearly completed a double-double with nine rebounds and 12 rebounds, adding three blocks.


3. Olivia Lemus, jr. — With a seven-point lead and six minutes left, Lemus lined up in the right corner, caught a pass and had no hesitation when she fired away. Swish. Lemus made her last three triples, scoring 15 points. She added three rebounds and took a charge on defense.


4. Hannah Stewart, fr. — Stewart is becoming more and more comfortable on the court. She was huge in the fourth quarter, playing great defense when SM North was trying to set up its offense. Stewart added a big three-pointer and assisted on a three by Lemus. She finished with seven points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.


5. Skylar Drum, jr. — With her quickness, Drum scored six points and grabbed two rebounds, including an offensive rebound off of a missed free throw. She also had a nice defensive stretch at the end of the first quarter by grabbing a steal, then blocking a shot on the next possession.


6. Talima Harjo, soph. — Harjo couldn’t get her shot to drop, but played solid defense on the perimeter and in the Lions’ full-court press. She finished with two rebounds, a steal, an assist and a block.


7. Gracie Reinsch, sr. — With Ajekwu on the bench for long stretches in the first half because of foul trouble, Reinsch stepped up with strong defense in the paint. With sheer hustle, Reinsch grabbed two rebounds in traffic, ripping the ball out of her opponent’s hands. She missed on two shot attempts, including a running jumper at the buzzer in the first quarter.


8. Leslie Ostronic, fr. — Ostronic didn’t attempt any shots but she grabbed two rebounds.


9. Asia Goodwin, soph. — Entered in the fourth quarter and didn’t record any stats.


• Next up: 5:30 p.m. Friday vs. Olathe North. Record: 8-9.

Lawrence High boys basketball

1. Price Morgan, sr. — In the fourth quarter, Morgan tried to put the team on his back and carry them to a win. He did it all on both sides of the court with a layup and a tip-slam that nearly brought the house down. On defense, he took a charge and blocked a shot at 100 mph into the ground. By the end of the two-minute spurt, he had the student section chanting his name. He finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and two assists.


2. Jackson Mallory, jr. — Mallory is turning into one of those players that finds their stride at the end of the season. He was fantastic on defense guarding Michael Weathers — “I’ve been comparing him to Buddy Hield. He can just kind of do it all,” Mallory said — by staying in front of his drives and not fouling, which not many players can successfully do. On offense, Mallory stepped up in the final minute of the first half with a perfect no-look assist, coast-to-coast layup after grabbing a steal, and he banked in a buzzer-beating three. He had 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.


3. Justin Roberts, sr. — On an off night, Roberts had 14 points, three assists, three steals and five turnovers. He couldn’t find his shot and took some big hits while driving to the rim or trying to stop SM North players from scoring in the paint.


4. Fred Brou, sr. — Brou didn’t have his best offensive night, only scoring two points on a dunk in the first quarter. But he was huge in other areas. He grabbed seven rebounds, blocked a shot and dished four assists. His ability to pass from the perimeter makes him such a tough matchup for defenders.


5. Anthony Harvey, sr. — Harvey couldn’t find his shooting stroke from behind the arc, but he knows how to sprint past defenders in transition. He scored nine points and added two rebounds.


6. Kobe Buffalomeat, jr. — The 6-foot-6 forward had a nice stretch at the end of the third quarter, sitting in the paint and waiting for his defender to help on drives by Roberts and Mallory. Once he was open, his teammates found him and Buffalomeat converted on layups.


7. Noah Butler, fr. — Butler missed his two three-point attempts and was called for a couple of touch fouls on the defensive end.


8. Braden Solko, jr. — Solko didn’t attempt any shots when he was on the floor.


• Next up: 7 p.m. Friday vs. #5 Olathe North. Record: 15-2.
*
Sunflower League boys basketball standings


Team … League … Overall


SM North … 8-0 … 13-4


Lawrence … 7-1 … 15-2


Olathe South … 6-2 … 12-5


Free State … 6-2 … 12-4


Olathe East … 5-3 … 13-4


Olathe North …4-4 … 12-5


SM West … 3-5 … 6-11


SM South … 3-5 … 8-9


SM East … 3-5 … 6-11


Olathe Northwest … 2-6 … 7-10


SM Northwest … 1-7 … 6-11


Leavenworth … 0-8 … 2-15


Sunflower League girls basketball standings


Team … League … Overall


Olathe South … 7-1 … 15-1


Olathe East … 7-1 … 14-3


Leavenworth … 7-1 … 13-4


SM Northwest … 6-2 … 15-2


SM West … 6-2 … 10-7


Free State … 5-3 … 12-5


SM North … 4-4 … 7-10


Lawrence … 2-6 … 8-9


SM East … 2-6 … 4-13


Olathe Northwest … 1-7 … 7-10


SM South … 1-7 … 4-13


Olathe North … 0-8 … 2-15
*
As always, feel free to comment, email me, or find me on Twitter @nightengalejr.