Olathe ? Since the school opened in the fall of 1997, Free State High’s boys never had defeated Sunflower League rival Olathe East.

The Hawks had won all nine meetings prior to Tuesday, but the Firebirds (5-2 overall, 3-0 Sunflower League) made sure the Hawks wouldn’t make the streak a perfect 10.

Free State outhustled, outplayed and outworked East, remaining perfect in league play with a 75-65 victory at OEHS.

The Firebirds dictated the flow of the game, but couldn’t shake the pesky Hawks in the first half. FSHS coach Jack Schreiner attributed that to selfish play offensively and not enough defensive intensity.

Taking a 35-29 lead into halftime, Schreiner’s squad settled down and increased its defensive pressure with a full-court trapping press.

“We got back to what’s made us a pretty good basketball team, and the result’s up there on the scoreboard,” Schreiner said. “We played much harder in the second half. That’s pretty much our mantra that this team’s going to hang our hat on, that we play hard.”

“I have no idea how the scoring went for us, but there were some unsung heroes who really stepped up. Caleb Harvey, Adam Bellinder, Matt Green, they’re guys that don’t start but they were as big of a reason for this victory as anybody.”

East gradually picked at Free State’s lead during the third quarter and got within 44-42. The Firebirds quickly delivered the dagger as the quarter closed, however.

Brady Morningstar nailed a three-pointer with 38 seconds left in the quarter, stole the inbound pass and drained another trey. East’s Joey Mundweiler answered with a three at the other end, but FSHS’ Tyler Blankenship responded with a trey as time expired.

“Those were big shots,” Morningstar said, “especially Tyler’s, because after I hit mine they hit one and it seemed like the run was over. But he came down, hit another one and started the run back up again.”

The Firebird lead was 53-45, and East never got closer.

Morningstar led all scorers with 25 points. Dain Dillingham scored 17 and Sam Buhler added 10 for Free State, which shot 55 percent as a team (28-51). Mundweiler led the Hawks with 23 points.

Olathe East 70, Free State girls 46

The Free State girls hung with the Sunflower League’s top team for a quarter before Olathe East (5-2, 3-0) pulled away. The Firebirds hit 56 percent of their shots, but were doomed by 37 turnovers.

Hawks guards Kelsi Ginavan, Jessica Harrison and Jenny Mundweiler put Free State under heavy pressure in the backcourt the entire game, and it was simply too much for the Firebirds to handle.

Free State (3-3, 1-2) trailed just 15-12 after the first quarter, but fell apart in the final three quarters.

“We didn’t have any composure tonight,” said FSHS coach Bryan Duncan. “Quite honestly, it was an embarrassing performance. Their quickness, size and athletic ability definitely was something we couldn’t simulate in practice, but we’ve been talking about it and we just didn’t follow our gameplan tonight.”

Karrah Clay led the Hawks with 22 points, Danielle McCray scored 21 and Ginavan added 10. Jenny Gwaltney and Jamie Stanclift each scored 11 for the Firebirds.