Kristin Mallory knows what she wants for Christmas — especially since she didn’t get it last year.

The second-year Lawrence High girls basketball coach had to endure a 44-41 loss to rival Free State last season in the teams’ pre-holiday meeting.

This year, she’d like a victory. If nothing else, it’d put her in a better mood for the holiday break.

“A loss matters heading into Christmas break,” Mallory said. “We found that out last year. It does ruin your break to have to go in with a loss.”

But when the Lions (2-1) play host to FSHS (1-1) at 7 tonight, Bryan Duncan’s squad will be doing its best to spoil Mallory’s break again.

Not that it’s personal.

If anything, Duncan, the Firebirds’ first-year coach, just wants a routine game. But he knows the city showdown is anything but routine.

“Quite honestly, as coaches, you try not to put any extra emphasis on one game,” Duncan said. “But I know emotions are going to play a bigger role when it comes to a rivalry game.”

The two schools split last year, with LHS avenging an early loss with a victory in the last week of the season. Free State holds a 6-3 series edge, having won five of the last six meetings.

Some of the girls play summer-league basketball together.

Still …

“We’re friends with them, but it’s still a rivalry,” LHS senior Audrey Pope said. “We want to win once we’re on the court.”

FSHS junior Jenny Gwaltney echoes those remarks, emphasizing the pride aspect. And, this is the first Sunflower League game for both teams.

“The rivalry’s getting stronger and stronger,” Gwaltney said. “We are friends off the court, but when you put on those uniforms, you want to win. There’s so many people you don’t want to let down — your teammates, your school, your family and yourself.”

With that much riding on this game, Mallory said motivation wouldn’t be a problem.

“The biggest thing I worry about is if the girls come out tight,” Mallory said. “There’s so much emotion involved, they don’t come out nervous, they’re just tight.”

The Lions, who have won two straight, are averaging 67 points a game, but haven’t played since Dec. 10. That means a little rust might work its way into those early minutes.

And the same goes for Free State.

After opening with a win over Kansas City Wyandotte, FSHS lost last Friday to Junction City. But only two games in nearly four weeks of practice means the Firebirds are still trying to develop some team chemistry.

“I think we’ve had 20 practices so far,” Duncan said. “But we’ve kept it intense every day, so we’re going to play like we practice.”

Gwaltney can accept practicing hard, but, like the rest of her team, she can’t wait for tonight.”

“We’re real young, so we do need a lot of practice,” she said. “But you can only practice for so long. I think we’re definitely ready to play.”