Topeka ? Free State High boys basketball coach Jack Schreiner is adamant that a game is never, ever decided by the final play.

Against Topeka Seaman Thursday, the last play merely gave the victory to the deserving team. And it wasn’t Free State.

Seaman senior Jeremy Henderson drained an off-balance, 12-foot jumper as time expired to give the Topeka Invitational Tournament its first shocker: a 58-56 victory by Seaman, the lowest seed of the four Topeka teams.

As devastating as buzzer-beaters often are, this one wasn’t so bad. Or, as Schreiner said, “It almost would’ve been a crime for us to have won this game the way we played.”

The loss drops the Firebirds into the consolation bracket. They’ll play Wichita West at 3:15 p.m. today.

“Nothing went right,” said Dain Dillingham, who led the Firebirds with 19 points. “We weren’t mentally ready to play. We didn’t hit layups, free throws, anything.”

If the Vikings (3-6) weren’t finding gaping holes in Free State’s aggressive defense, they were forcing the Firebirds to play much more patient than they’re comfortable playing. Free State (5-3) missed many high-percentage shots and was only 50 percent (7-of-14) from the free-throw line.

On top of that, starting guard Sam Buhler injured his ankle in the first half and didn’t return, and several players were in foul trouble, including Tyler Blankenship, who fouled out with 7:24 to play.

“We lose the heart and soul of our team with Buhler,” Schreiner said. “But that’s one of the 3,000 excuses I’m not going to use.”

6Sports video: Free State falls in close game

The game was close throughout. Seaman led, 27-25 at halftime, but the Firebirds countered with a 10-2 run to start the third quarter, with six of the points coming off two Blankenship three-pointers.

But soon after, Blankenship was whistled for his fourth foul and was forced to sit out the rest of the quarter. Seaman slowly climbed back into it and had the game tied at 42 after three quarters.

“Seaman played harder and wanted it more,” Schreiner said. “That’s basically it.”

Seaman controlled the game for most of the fourth quarter, but the clutch shooting of Adam Bellinder kept Free State alive. The senior drained a three-pointer with 3:46 to play to tie the score at 51, then drained another one with 10 seconds to play to tie the score at 56.

But 10 seconds was just enough time for the Vikings. After Henderson couldn’t find an open man, he drove the baseline and unleashed a wobbly shot that sent Free State into the consolation bracket.

Despite the opportunity to bounce back, Schreiner wasn’t in the mood for positive thinking Thursday.

“We’re in the loser’s bracket. We’re not where we want to be,” he said. “It’s not a good tournament for us anymore. Period.”