Preview: Basketball vs. SM North

Written by Taylor Norden:

Tonight, the Lady Lancers hope to grab their first win of the season when they take on the Indians of Shawnee Mission North. The Lancers have struggled this season with losses to BV North, Lawrence Free State and SM Northwest. Head coach Austin Klumpe aims to take an early lead, since North only averages nine points in the first quarter. On the opposing bench, Kelly Davis has coached the Indians to a 2-2 start to the season.

“Everyone’s going to have to have a big game,” said Klumpe. “Everyone has their strenghts, but it has to be a team effort.”

Players will need to step up from the bench, especially because of the injuries that have hindered the Lancers throughout the season. Junior Sam Schneider is expected to be out for several more games with a knee injury. Sophomore Josie Clough will be making her first appearance since recovering from a concussion.

According to Coach Klumpe, the Indians are big on trapping and pressing.

“[We will need to have] great pass fakes, and poise under pressure,” Klumpe said. “Effort and energy. It’s all about effort and energy.”

Written by Julia Poe

After a slow start to the season, the 4-2 Lancers will take on the 3-3 SM North Indians tonight in their first game of the regular season. The Indians will rely heavily on junior twin brothers Marcus and Michael Weathers, and East head coach Shawn Hair spent the last week emphasizing the importance of defense against the aggressive North squad.

“They’re a great team,” Hair said. “Very athletic, very physical, very quick to the basket. And they have two players who can ignite an offense and draw a lead out quickly.”

The twins have combined for an average of 38 points per game, anchoring the North offense. In order to win, Hair believes his team will have to keep both players from cutting into the paint and capitalizing off of drives to the basket.

On the other side of the court, East will work the ball inside to senior post Lucas Jones and rely on junior Joey Wentz to handle the ball on the outside. Both players have averaged double digits in their first six games of the season, and that contribution will be crucial for the Lancers’ success tonight.

“We’ve had a good start to the season,” Hair said. “The boys are coming out hard, and we have to keep that intensity into the fourth quarter.”

Tip off for the girls game is at 5:30 p.m., and tip off for the boys is at 7 p.m. Both games will be played at SM North and broadcasted live here.