Basketball Falls to Olathe North

Late in the fourth quarter, the three-point shot rattled around the rim before sinking through the net. There wasn’t much of a Lancer student section — perhaps ten students, at the most — but their cheers filled the nearly-silent gym as the Lancers took their first, and final, lead of the night.

The team was up by one point. It lasted for thirty seconds.

Then, the Olathe North Eagles stormed back, regaining the lead they held for the majority of the game. The Lancers stayed within one point, then slipped to three, then to five. By the time the buzzer sounded, the score had slipped to 43-51, and the Lancers notched their seventh loss of the season.

It was a hard-fought night for the Lancers, who were outsized in every position and unable to convert on critical fast break opportunities. From the start, Olathe North dominated the pace of the game through pure physical presence in the paint.

Anchoring the Eagles was the physical dominance of 6’ 4” juniors RJ Smith and Haran Thompkins, whose mass made up for a height difference against senior Lucas Jones. Although Jones scored the first six points of the game, and eventually went on to have a double-double, he struggled against the larger Olathe North players. The Lancers were forced to rely on outside shots, and even Jones lobbed up several three-point shots throughout the night.

Although seniors Jack Flint and Gunnar Englund were able to drop several threes, outside shooting was spotty for the Lancers after the first quarter. Unable to drive through the powerful Olathe North posts, the Lancers settled into a fast-paced offense that relied on quick passes and outside shots. Inaccuracy from outside the line made it difficult for the Lancers to score, particularly in the third quarter, when the team scored only five points.

By the fourth quarter, the game became a battle of fouls. The Lancers quickly racked up 10 fouls, putting Olathe North into double bonus. And although several threes put the team in the lead for a few plays, it wasn’t enough to swing the momentum. In the final minute, Olathe North capitalized on two turnovers that sealed the Eagles’ victory.

Next week, the Lancers square off against Olathe South on Tuesday, Feb. 10. The game is also the night of the debut of the Lancer Dancers’ hip hop routine, and will be broadcasted live here.