If nothing else, Free State High's girls basketball team learned a valuable lesson this season.
"It's nice to know that if you work hard at something, it's going to work out for you eventually," FSHS senior guard/forward Katie Rhodes said. "When we were sophomores we had not a very good record, as juniors we improved some and while we were seniors we had a winning record. It's something we can be proud of."
Actually, when Rhodes, senior guard Kristin Bock and senior forward Lauren Wilkinson were freshmen, the Firebirds went 0-21. During the next three seasons, Free State's record steadily improved to 9-13, then 10-11 and finally 16-7 this season.
This year's squad set the school record for wins by either the boys or girls basketball teams in qualifying for the Class 6A state tournament for the first time.
"We've gone through some tough times," FSHS coach Craig Hershiser said. "We've really suffered some bumps and bruises along the way. Our kids, I think they've bounced back, I think they've understood that it's a gradual kind of process. There's no instant success. We've done it the hard way, but I think we've done it the right way, too.
"Hopefully we'll have some carryover from one year to the next and be solid and a winning program from here on out."
That could be easier said than done.
In addition to Rhodes, Bock and Wilkinson, Free State also will lose seniors Joyia Chadwick, Jackie Dubois and Christina Neighbors next season. All told, the six seniors accounted for 40.6 points a game or 87 percent of the offense 356 of 410 field goals, 190 of 222 free throws and all 32 three-pointers.
For their efforts, Rhodes (first team), Chadwick (second team), Dubois (second team), Bock (honorable mention), Neighbors (honorable mention) and Wilkinson (honorable mention) all received all-Sunflower League recognition.
"We had a really good season," Neighbors said. "We've really brought our program a long way. Only being here four years so far and coming all the way to state was pretty exciting for us."
Not only was Rhodes the Firebirds' leading scorer this season with an average of 14.1 points per game, but also will depart with four single-game records, four single-season records and all six career records.
Additionally, Dubois shares the single-game record for steals in a game with seven, and Chadwick set the mark for rebounds with 16. Dubois also has single-season marks for steals and assists, while Chadwick has the single-season rebounding record.
"I hope we leave Free State with a good reputation for the girls basketball program," Rhodes said. "Hopefully the players behind us will carry it on."
The seniors don't leave many players behind.
In fact, just five other players junior guard Megan Dougherty, junior guard Stacie Garland, junior forward Emily Yessen, sophomore forward Jayme Lisher and sophomore guard Linsey Morningstar played in more than five games.
Dougherty, who sparked a second-half surge against Overland Park Aquinas during the state quarterfinals with three straight baskets, will be the Firebirds' top returning scorer at 3.1 ppg. Morningstar (1.5) and Garland (1.2) didn't score much, but both logged valuable minutes off the bench.
"We've got some people that we can build upon," Hershiser said.
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