Topeka ? Free State High’s offense wasn’t clicking Friday night in the boys basketball team’s season-opening 61-45 victory at Washburn Rural.

Then Firebirds coach Jack Schreiner turned to Plan B.

“Our halfcourt offense was really bad tonight,” Schreiner said. “We went to our secondary offense. We spread them out and got easy baskets after that.”

Free State was clinging to a 20-19 lead with 4:32 left in the first half when senior guard Brady Morningstar sank a three-pointer that ignited a 9-1 run.

After Rural’s Adam Sokolowski made one of two free throws, Free State’s defense took over. The Firebirds scored three baskets off three consecutive Rural turnovers in a span of 44 seconds.

Morningstar had a steal and a layup, sophomore Damien Dillon scored off another Junior Blues’ miscue, and senior guard Sam Buhler stole an inbounds pass and converted it into a layup for a 29-20 lead with 2:57 left in the half.

Morningstar made 10 of his first 13 shots and finished with a game-high 27 points.

“I felt pretty good,” said Morningstar, who made 12 of 19 shots, including two of three three-pointers. “I was excited because it was our first game. We were really pumped up in the locker room. I think we’re going to have a good year.”

Free State High's Damien Dillon, left, fights for a loose ball against Washburn Rural's Lance Montgomery during the second half. The Firebirds beat the Junior Blues, 61-45, Friday night in Topeka.

Free State led 38-26 at halftime. The Junior Blues cut the deficit to single digits once, 47-39, after consecutive baskets by Derek Christian, who finished with 13 points.

But Dillon sank a three-pointer, and the Firebirds pulled away. Dillon had 10 points off the bench on a night FSHS struggled with foul trouble.

“He gave us a big boost,” Schreiner said. “He’s a sophomore we expect to be a special player for us.”

Buhler made all six of his shots from the field and finished with 12 points.

The Firebirds will play Blue Valley West at 6 p.m. Monday at the Olathe South Invitational.

Washburn Rural girls 74, Free State 36

Free State's Allie Hoch, left, collides with Washburn Rural's Jacci Tinkel. The Junior Blues won, 74-36, Friday night in Topeka.

The Junior Blues opened the season as the No. 2 team in Class 6A, and they lived up to their ranking.

Rural, last year’s state runner-up, outscored Free State 19-6 in the first quarter, and the game’s outcome was never in doubt.

“We found out that offensively we still have a lot of work to do,” FSHS coach Bryan Duncan said. “We have to keep our composure and handle pressure. It’s hard to simulate the way Washburn Rural plays in practice.”

Sophomore guard Lauren Kimball led Free State with 11 points in her first varsity game, and senior forward Jamie Stanclift added nine. Lauren Shufelberger and Cary Zimmer led Washburn Rural with 16 points each.

The Firebirds will play Lansing at 3 p.m. Thursday in the first round of the Bonner Springs Invitational.