Emporia ? Phase I of Free State HighâÂÂs boys basketball teamâÂÂs 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.

âÂÂThis is awesome,â FSHS coach Jack Schreiner said. âÂÂThese were goals we set for ourselves at the beginning of the season. ItâÂÂs a long season. WeâÂÂve got 16 regular-season games left.âÂÂ

Of course, if the Firebirds (4-0) are to hoist a host of other trophies this season, SaturdayâÂÂs 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 wasnâÂÂt easy for the Firebirds to win the tournament for the first time in school history. But theyâÂÂll take it.

âÂÂIt feels good,â senior Bijai Jones said. âÂÂHopefully we get to do this some more.âÂÂ

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.

âÂÂBijai, oh my goodness, he was just huge for us,â Schreiner said. âÂÂWe told him thatâÂÂs his role for this yearâÂÂs team and heâÂÂs just been getting better and better every game.âÂÂ

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.

âÂÂThe coaches said they needed someone to step up and make plays,â Jones said. âÂÂIf itâÂÂs boxing out, or playing defense, IâÂÂm doing anything to help us win.âÂÂ

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.

âÂÂYou watch Cameron and it looks heâÂÂs in pain constantly, â Schreiner said. âÂÂBut he hit some huge shots for us.âÂÂ

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.

âÂÂI donâÂÂt even want to touch that,â Schreiner said. âÂÂWe overcame some adversity. Talent doesnâÂÂt always mean you win games. But this yearâÂÂs team decided that we needed to play as a team and weâÂÂre going to do things the way they needed to be done. So far, weâÂÂre happy.

âÂÂThe only concern I have is we didnâÂÂt knock down free throws in the last two minutes and the game isnâÂÂt as close. But those are things you work and you get better.âÂÂ