Emporia ? Phase I of Free State High’s boys basketball team’s dream season is complete.

Now comes the tough part – the rest of the season.

The Firebirds won the KVOE Tip-Off Classic on Saturday by holding off the host Spartans 58-46, and taking the first step to what they hope is a state title season.

“This is awesome,” FSHS coach Jack Schreiner said. “These were goals we set for ourselves at the beginning of the season. It’s a long season. We’ve got 16 regular-season games left.”

Of course, if the Firebirds (4-0) are to hoist a host of other trophies this season, Saturday’s championship could go a long way to helping them along. FSHS endured foul trouble, late missed free throws and a raucous atmosphere in an unfamiliar arena.

Needless to say, it wasn’t easy for the Firebirds to win the tournament for the first time in school history. But they’ll take it.

“It feels good,” senior Bijai Jones said. “Hopefully we get to do this some more.”

On a team that has lots of weapons, Jones may have been the biggest reason why FSHS ended up on top. He had team-highs of 14 points and eight rebounds, but it was the timing of his buckets and boards that mattered the most.

When Emporia (3-1) was desperate for points in the final minutes, Jones was the guy dragging down the rebound. When Free State needed to answer on the other end, Jones hit a couple of big baskets.

With 6-foot-9 senior Keith Wooden in foul trouble, Jones was the man inside.

Free State's Bijai Jones shoots against Emporia. Jones had 14 points and eight rebounds Saturday in a 58-46 victory in the finals of the KVOE Tip-Off Classic.

“Bijai, oh my goodness, he was just huge for us,” Schreiner said. “We told him that’s his role for this year’s team and he’s just been getting better and better every game.”

Jones and junior Dain Dillingham, who finished with 11 points, all on second-half free throws, were rewarded for their efforts with all-tournament honors.

“The coaches said they needed someone to step up and make plays,” Jones said. “If it’s boxing out, or playing defense, I’m doing anything to help us win.”

While Jones had the big plays, senior Cameron Karlin made the subtle, but just as important ones. He was five of five from the floor, including three three-pointers – one to open the game; one right before halftime that brought Free State to within one; and another to open the second half, which gave the Firebirds their first lead since the first quarter.

If there was a quiet way to score 13 points on perfect shooting, Karlin did it.

“You watch Cameron and it looks he’s in pain constantly, ” Schreiner said. “But he hit some huge shots for us.”

Free state high center Keith Wooden battles Emporia forward Cole Chamberlain for a rebound during Saturday's championship game of the KVOE Tip Off Classic in Emporia.

The result also made it easy to overlook how disparate the two halves were.

Emporia led at halftime largely because of good shooting and an incredible foul advantage. Free State was saddled with 15 in the first half, giving the Spartans 19 free-throw attempts. The second quarter saw Emporia turn an 8-8 game into a 30-29 halftime lead even though it made only two field goals in the first seven minutes.

Yet, the roles were reversed in the second half, as Free State shot 22 free throws, and owned a 13-7 foul advantage.

“I don’t even want to touch that,” Schreiner said. “We overcame some adversity. Talent doesn’t always mean you win games. But this year’s team decided that we needed to play as a team and we’re going to do things the way they needed to be done. So far, we’re happy.

“The only concern I have is we didn’t knock down free throws in the last two minutes and the game isn’t as close. But those are things you work and you get better.”