Topeka ? Lawrence High and Free State each earned boys basketball victories Friday in the Topeka Invitational Tournament, setting the stage for the second city showdown — about 25 miles west of Lawrence.

Today, Free State (6-3) and Lawrence (3-8) will meet in the fifth-place game of the tournament, held at Topeka High. Tipoff is set for 1:45 p.m.

“We talked about the fact that if we win here, we get another Free State matchup,” LHS coach Chris Davis said. “Both teams are excited about that, and we’re ready to play them again.”

The Firebirds won the first meeting, 110-65, Dec. 19 at Free State. They’ll play again Feb. 7 at Lawrence High.

Not since the 2000-01 season have FSHS and LHS met three times in one season. Free State won two of three that year, including a victory over the Lions in their Class 6A sub-state finals.

“It takes some of the pressure off the next game, because we’ve already played them,” FSHS senior Tyler Blankenship said. “Why not play your rivals again?”