Topeka ? It looked as though Free State High’s boys basketball team would live up to its “porous” reputation during its opener Friday night at Topeka Washburn Rural.

The Junior Blues tore by the Firebird defense in the first four minutes, opening an early lead with several easy layups. Making matters worse, the FSHS offense committed three turnovers and managed just four shots in that span.

But that’s when the Firebirds decided they’d had enough. A half-court trap disrupted Washburn’s offense, Free State found its offensive rhythm and ended up with a 63-56 victory.

While FSHS senior Keith Wooden and junior Dain Dillingham provided the offensive sparks, it was the defense that keyed the win.

“Our reputation is that we’re not a very good defensive team,” FSHS coach Jack Schreiner said. “That bothers me personally, because it’s a reflection on me.”

With Dillingham and junior Cole Douglas applying the pressure, Free State (1-0) forced Washburn away from its strength, namely feeding 6-foot-8 junior center Brady Sisk down low. Sisk, who weighs about 280 pounds, had nine points in the first half, but none in the final five minutes of the half.

“He’s a wide load around the hoop,” Wooden said. “I gotta get in the weight room myself.”

Wooden, meanwhile, hit three straight 15-foot jumpers in the second quarter, and a soaring Dillingham layup and free throw, cut the Washburn lead to 28-27. The Junior Blues (0-1) would maintain a one-point halftime advantage, but it disappeared early in the third quarter, when Dillingham, who finished with 13 points and six assists, drove for a bucket.

Wooden nailed another three jumpers as Free State used a 12-4 run to open up a 45-38 lead, which it wouldn’t relinquish.

The 6-9 forward, who led all scorers with 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting, was stifled early inside, unable to move around Sisk. Washburn had been collapsing on Wooden, but seemed content to give him the mid-range jumpers. When he kept hitting those, allowing the rest of the offense to adjust, the Firebirds started rolling.

“We had to make that adjustment because when we got the ball inside, everybody just watched him,” Schreiner said. “I told him, ‘You were a black hole tonight. Whenever we threw the ball into you, it wasn’t coming out. We have other kids that can score.'”

Senior Cameron Karlin, who finished with 11 points, followed Wooden’s buckets with a driving layup, and Douglas hit a jumper. Washburn, unable to hit Sisk down low, settled for three pointer after three pointer.

Bad idea. The Junior Blues hit just two of 19 attempts.

Some errant Firebird passes and average free-throw shooting allowed Washburn to hang around, but it never came closer than seven points. In all, Schreiner’s team looked great when it D’d-up, but still lacked some offensive cohesion.

“It was first-game jitters or whatever you want to call it,” Schreiner said. “Maybe we emphasized our defense too much, so our offense suffered a bit.”

Free State plays Thursday against Tulsa, Okla., in the first-round of the Emporia Tournament.