Lions advance to championship game for 6A state basketball
Senior Anthony Bonner drives down the court during the first half of Friday’s semifinal basketball game. Bonner finished the game with 20 points.
March 13, 2015
WICHITA — After overcoming a long day of travel and getting used to a new, large venue, the Lions overtook the Shawnee Mission North Indians, 78-64, advancing to the championship game against Wichita East tomorrow.
The team came out for the second half ready to follow up a solid first-half performance where they led Shawnee Mission North, 24-17.
The starters came out shooting on the basket in front of the student section, raising hype in the third quarter. Senior Logan Applegate tipped in a field goal at the buzzer to conclude the quarter.
Lewis put the fiver starters back on the court to bring the Lions home, and four of the five remained for the entire stretch. Junior Price Morgan was switched out with Applegate early in the quarter.
The sizeable lead was apparent in the student section, where irrelevant chants such as a reptitive “USA” raged during timeouts.
With 3:05 left in the game, Roberts caught a rebound outside the paint, hurled it to senior Ben Rajewski who, while taking it to the basket, fouled out of the game. Barbee snagged the lost point seconds later.
The student section closed out the game singing the alma mater over the SMN pep band’s song.
The Lions take on East tomorrow at 6:30 p.m.
