Lady Lions head to state Thursday for first appearance since 2008

The Lady Lions have not been to the 6A state basketball tournament since 2008. In that year, they ended up winning the tournament, and look for the same amount of success this year.

LHS will be facing Olathe South in the first round of the tournament at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday at the Charles Koch Arena in Wichita. The Falcons come in with a record of 18-4 and are the no. 3 seed in the tournament. The Lions will be the no. 6 seed with a record of 18-4.

The Falcons defeated LHS earlier in the season 54-38. The team feels that they are much more mature from their first outing against Olathe South on Jan. 6 and will be ready from the start state.

The Lions come in with a great deal of confidence winning seven straight games and with a margin of victory of at least 10 in all those games. Over the course of those seven games, junior forward E’lease Stafford has dominated averaging 18.2 points per game. The Lions have also played improved defense during the winning streak, only letting opponents score around 37 points per game.

If the Lions advance Thursday, they will face the winner of no. 2 seed Manhattan and no. 7 seed Olathe Northwest Friday at 3 pm.