Free State senior Zach McDermott (25) scores in a 68-57 semifinal win against Topeka High Friday, March 9, 2018 at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita.

WICHITA — Almost exactly one year from the most gut-wrenching loss of their high school basketball careers, Free State seniors Bansi King and Zach McDermott were celebrating their spot in the Class 6A state championship game.

During their state semifinal victory over Topeka on Friday, King scored 12 points by drilling all three of his 3-pointers while McDermott had four points and five rebounds in a 68-57 win at Wichita State’s Koch Arena.

Transfers from Bishop Seabury Academy, King and McDermott never forgot how close they were to playing for a state title last season. The Seahawks lost in a six-overtime thriller in the Class 2A state semifinals last year.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Free State senior Bansi King (11) hits a 3-point shot in the Firebirds 68-57 semifinal win against Topeka High Friday, March 9, 2018 at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita.

The longest game in Kansas state tournament history ended when St. John guard Cole Kinnamon swished a double-clutch shot from the half-court logo with McDermott and King among the three players with hands in his face. The game-winning shot earned a spot on ESPN’s Top 10 plays that night.

“Never take it for granted because you could see what happened last year,” McDermott said. “We just want to go out with a win this year and take it home to Lawrence.”

King, a 6-foot-2 sharpshooter, fired up his teammates with his instant offense off of the bench. Near the end of the first quarter, King pump-faked past a defender, took one dribble to his left, and buried a 3-pointer during a 14-0 run for the Firebirds.

During pregame warmups, King knew his shot was on. He’d swish one shot, pass the ball to a teammate, swish another and continue the cycle.

“I was definitely feeling it,” King said. “I just thought I had to step up to the plate and knock down some shots for our team.”

The 6-foot-3 McDermott beat the buzzer on a pair of layups at the end of the first and second quarters. Both times he drove to his left and floated shots over any post players waiting in the paint.

?Free State (19-5) produced a 31-2 run over a nine-minute stretch in the first half, making 13 of its 19 shots during the spurt.

“That’s just what we’re capable of when everyone is playing together and everyone is playing aggressive and shots fall,” McDermott said.

Throughout the second half, the Firebirds had some trouble with turnovers but they never lost their composure. McDermott and King helped break Topeka’s full-court press, which often set up free throw attempts for their teammates.

Contributing to Free State’s first state title game appearance in program history, King and McDermott are hopeful that they can finish something they started last season, even if it’s at a different school.

“Everything is clicking at the right time,” King said. “I can’t wait.”