With five games in 12 days, Free State High girls basketball coach Craig Hershiser hasn’t had much time to think about tonight’s opponent, crosstown rival Lawrence High.

Tipoff for the nonleague contest between FSHS and LHS is 7 tonight in the Lions’ gym.

“We haven’t had the opportunity to look ahead and anticipate this game,” said Hershiser, whose squad has lost three in a row, including a 58-37 setback to Leavenworth on Saturday.

Both the Firebirds and Lions, who end the regular season this week with three games, are 6-11 overall and 2-6 in the Sunflower League. Free State leads the series, 6-2, with six consecutive victories. FSHS beat Lawrence, 44-41, in a league meeting on Dec. 20.

LHS and FSHS are battling for the seventh seed in their Class 6A sub-state. Current sub-state standings are Topeka (15-3), Leavenworth (13-5), Olathe South (12-7), Topeka Washburn Rural (11-7), Olathe North (10-8), Olathe East (9-8) and the two city schools at 6-11. Sub-state seedings will be announced on Saturday.

“I think the winner of that game gets the seventh seed and the loser the eighth seed,” LHS coach Kristin Mallory said. “It’s probably a bigger for us than it is for them.”

Tonight’s loser will probably play Topeka next week in the first round of sub-state at Olathe North. Tonight’s winner will play either Olathe South or Washburn Rural next week at a site to be determined in the sub-state opener.

Free State, averaging 41.6 points a game, is led by senior guard Lauren Wright, who is averaging 13.3 points a game and has hit a school-record 43 three-pointers. Wright, though, has been limited to seven points combined in the past two games.

FSHS junior forward Jayme Lisher, who missed last week’s games while recovering from a broken nose, should return tonight. She was a key factor in Free State’s victory over the Lions two months ago.

LHS, averaging 48.7 points a game, has lost three of its past four and is assured of its sixth consecutive losing season.

“We’re still playing hard, playing tough teams,” Mallory said. “We’re having a hard time putting the basketball in the hole right now. Hopefully we’ll gain some confidence soon.”

Sophomore Josie Polk averages 10.5 points to lead the Lions.

In their first meeting with FSHS, the Lions trailed 20-7 at halftime.

“We did not play well, at least in the first half,” Mallory recalled. “We used that game as a learning experience.”