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Topeka — For a basketball team that thought it had turned the corner, Free State High hit another pothole on its road to recovery.

The Firebirds, who snapped a five-game losing streak less than 24 hours earlier, squandered a 17-point lead on Saturday and lost, 61-60, to Topeka West in the fifth-place consolation game of the Topeka Invitational.

"I honestly believe if we win this game we're back rolling and feeling good about ourselves," said Firebird coach Jack Schreiner, who has suffered three one-point losses this season. "We had no business losing this game. I'll take the blame for this."

The Firebirds (3-8) led 46-29 with 5:16 left in the third quarter and 54-42 entering the final period. The host Chargers (6-5) outscored Free State 19-6 in the fourth quarter, when the Firebirds committed seven turnovers and made no field goals on two attempts.

"You've got to be mentally tough," Schreiner said. "Every single kid that was on that floor in the last four minutes made some bonehead, mental mistake that wound up costing us."

Topeka West junior guard Michael Williams capitalized on Free State's last mistake. With the score tied at 60-all, Williams stole the ball near midcourt and had a breakaway for a layin before being fouled by Damian Harden with 2.9 seconds left.

Williams made the first free throw for the decisive point, which was Topeka West's first lead since 10-9. Williams missed the second attempt, Free State rebounded and Harden uncorked a shot from midcourt that glanced off the backboard as the buzzer sounded.

The Chargers, who made just four of their first 18 free-throw attempts, made 12 of their final 14 free throws to finish at 50 percent from the line (16-for-32).

One of West's free throws in the Chargers' second-half surge came after Firebird junior forward Keith Wooden was called for a technical after hanging on the rim following a missed dunk. Schreiner questioned the technical, saying his player was trying to protect himself.

Free State led 60-55 with 2:04 left after Wooden made two free throws. The Chargers, coached by former Eudora coach Chad Eshbaugh, scored the final six points as the Firebirds committed two turnovers on their last two possessions.

"I don't think we really got too comfortable," said Wooden, who finished with a team-high 15 points. "We just lost sight of our focus."

Free State was focused in the first half. Ahead 21-20 with six minutes left in the second quarter, the Firebirds closed the half with a 15-3 run for a 36-23 halftime cushion.

FSHS senior guard Andron Cruse, who didn't score on Friday, scored all 12 of his points in the first half all on three-pointers.

"For 2 1/2 quarters that's as well as we've played all year, offensively and defensively," Schreiner said. "Their shots just started to fall."

West junior Johar Moss scored a game-high 17 points, including 12 in the second half. Williams finished with 15 points.

Free State shot 66.7 percent from the field (20-for-30) but was hindered by 20 turnovers.

The Firebirds defeated Topeka Highland Park, 63-60, on Friday behind Wooden's 26 points for their first victory since Dec. 8.

"We got our first win a month and that's good for the team," said Wooden, who scored 50 points to lead all Free State players in the three-day tournament. "This loss might set us back us a little bit. We're going to come back in practice on Tuesday and work that much harder."

Free State dropped to 11-19 all time in regular-season tournaments. In 10 tournament appearances, the Firebirds have won two games in a tourney just once the 2000 Capital City Classic. In the other nine tournaments, FSHS went 1-2.

Next for FSHS is a road game at Kansas City (Mo.) Hickman Mills.

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