FSHS earns spot in finale with 50-29 victory

? For the Free State High boys basketball team, the second time around was twice as nice.

Facing Topeka Washburn Rural for the second time this season, the Firebirds overcame an off night offensively and cruised to a 50-29 semifinal victory over the Junior Blues on Friday at White Auditorium.

The victory puts Free State in todayâÂÂs championship game of the KVOE Tip Off Classic, the first time the Firebirds have gone for the title in six years of participating in the tournament.

âÂÂI hope it doesnâÂÂt take another six years,â FSHS coach Jack Schreiner quipped after the game.

The Firebirds (3-0) will play host Emporia at 3:15 p.m. today for the title. Emporia beat Junction City, 86-71, Friday in the other semifinal.

Schreiner is expecting a large showing today in Emporia, most of them rooting against his Firebirds.

âÂÂThatâÂÂs one of our motivating things,â Schreiner said. âÂÂWe wanted to get to a final and see what itâÂÂs like to play in a championship.âÂÂ

Washburn Rural (1-2) never scored more than eight points in a single quarter. Free StateâÂÂs aggressive defense forced 15 Junior Blue turnovers, and Washburn Rural shot just 23 percent from the field, including 1-of-9 from three-point range.

âÂÂAt the beginning of the year, our main goal was for our defense to be real good,â Firebirds forward Cole Douglas said. âÂÂThese last few games, weâÂÂve come out and really been tough.âÂÂ

Douglas scored eight points, but it was his defense that shined. To go along with several defensive rebounds and forced steals, the junior dove for a loose ball in the third quarter and went crashing into press row. He was shaken up and left the game briefly but returned.

âÂÂIt knocked the wind out of me at first,â Douglas said. âÂÂNow my back is kind of sore.âÂÂ

FSHS senior Keith Wooden left early in the third quarter with a back strain after scoring nine points on 4-of-11 shooting. He did not return, but is expected to play today.

With Wooden out and forward Bijai Jones in foul trouble, the guard play provided the bulk of the second-half scoring. Junior Dain Dillingham led the Firebirds with 13 points – all in the second half – and junior Brady Morningstar added seven.

âÂÂI thought in the second half, we finally ran our offense,â Schreiner said. âÂÂWe got four or five trips in a row where we got easy attempts. ThatâÂÂs all you can ask for.âÂÂ

Morningstar also took part in the annual three-point shooting competition in conjunction with the tournament. He outlasted 16 participants for a second-place finish. EmporiaâÂÂs Wes Book was crowned champion.

Still, Morningstar and the Firebirds will gladly take the team title, instead. TheyâÂÂll get their chance today.

âÂÂGoing into the tournament, we knew we were one of the best teams,â Douglas said. âÂÂSo far weâÂÂre proving it, and hopefully we can come out and get another (win).âÂÂ