Topeka ? Rarely has a 19-point win come with so nonchalant an effort.

Free State High’s boys basketball team opened the Topeka Invitational on Thursday with a 74-55 win against host Topeka Seaman, but the final score didn’t indicate how indifferent the Firebirds played or the many problems the undersized Vikings presented.

With no player taller than 6-foot-3, the Vikings scrapped, clawed and were within 10 points until late in the third quarter when the Firebirds began to pull away.

For lopsided wins, this one wasn’t easy.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Topeka Seaman, but we were taller, more athletic. On paper, we were supposed to win this game,” FSHS coach Jack Schreiner said.

“To play like we did and still win by 20, that says something.”

The Firebirds (7-3) advanced to the semifinals. They’ll play Topeka West, 52-45 winners over Wichita East, at 8:30 tonight.

But if the Firebirds let West (7-2) hang around like Seaman did, they could be in trouble. The Chargers have more size up front and a quicker backcourt, meaning FSHS has to come ready to play.

Oddly, the Firebirds opened huge Thursday — it just didn’t last.

Free State High's Bijai Jones reaches for a rebound in front of Seaman's Tanner McAndrew, right. The Firebirds won, 71-55, on Thursday in Topeka.

FSHS took a 8-0 lead, capped with a two-handed dunk by 6-1 point guard Dain Dillingham. It looked like Seaman might fold, but Vikings coach Charles Glotta called time out, yelled at his team for playing scared and sent them back out. Seaman promptly ran off seven points, trimming the FSHS lead to 8-7.

Another two-hander, this time by 6-7 senior Cameron Karlin, gave the Firebirds a 14-9 lead.

“I looked down at coach (Gary) Hall and coach (Chuck) Law and said those dunks may come back to hurt us,” Schreiner said. “Our point guard’s dunking the ball, and it got our guys thinking this is going to be easy.”

The rest of the way, Free State kept at least a five-point cushion. Though Seaman would make an occasional run, the Firebirds never let the game get away. It was a lot like Karlin’s dunk — it came easy, but FSHS never looked comfortable hammering the smaller Vikings.

“I kinda was (nervous about dunking), but when I got up there I was higher than I thought,” Karlin said. “I was just thinking I have to make sure I have enough room.”

Free State's Dain Dillingham looks to pass around Topeka Seaman's Matt Kimsey. The Firebirds won 74-55 on Thursday at the Topeka Invitational. Free State box score on page 7C.

Karlin also had the basket that signaled the end for Seaman.

The Vikings were down 46-34 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter, and they seemed poised to make another run. But Karlin, from the top of the key, threw an alley-oop that came in too high. But instead of bouncing off the rim, it hit the backboard and went in, starting a 12-3 FSHS run that sealed the win.

Karlin lead all scorers with 18 points, grabbed eight rebounds and also notched three blocks. FSHS senior Keith Wooden added 17 points and 11 rebounds, his third straight double-double. Senior Bijai Jones and Dillingham each had 10 as FSHS had its second-highest scoring game this season, overshadowing any defensive difficulties.

“We didn’t give as much effort as we’d like on defense,” Karlin said. “But a win’s a win.”