Topeka ? In round two of the city showdown, the Free State High boys basketball team came away a winner again.

But if you wanted another rout, go find an inferior rivalry.

Lawrence High met FSHS in the fifth-place game Saturday of the Topeka Invitational Tournament, clawing and scrapping before falling 79-73. Free State (7-3) finished the tourney 2-1, and Lawrence (3-9) went 1-2.

“Since we can’t win the tournament, this is the next best thing,” FSHS coach Jack Schreiner said. “I’m as proud of this team as I’ve been all year.”

Despite the game being played on a neutral court at Topeka High, the atmosphere and energy that makes this city showdown so special was as alive as ever.

And the game itself was a classic, too, a far cry from the 110-65 Free State victory in December. This time around, Lawrence High led much of the way, thanks to obvious intensity and clutch shooting from a number of Lions.

“This team is definitely playing much better basketball,” Lawrence coach Chris Davis said. “I thought we played a really good game.”

But the ball bounced the Firebirds’ way in the fourth quarter, and they never faltered when given an opportunity to contribute. FSHS senior Caleb Harvey’s basket midway through the fourth quarter gave the Firebirds a 65-63 lead, and they never again trailed.

Not that things weren’t uncomfortably close. The Lions, who can be the most dangerous long-range shooting team in the state, kept fighting back when Free State was trying to put the game away. Junior Brennan Bechard brought the game within five by nailing a three-pointer with 2:10 to play, then hit another with 1:37 to play to make the score 73-71 Free State.

Free State High's Brady Morningstar, right, blocks a shot by Lawrence High's Brennan Bechard. The Firebirds beat the Lions, 79-73, in the fifth-place game of the Topeka Invitational Tournament Saturday in Topeka.

Bechard was just one of a number of LHS heroes. Junior David Freeman hit four three-pointers and scored a team-high 20 points. Senior Alex Ayre hit a third-quarter trey that gave Lawrence a six-point lead just when it seemed Free State was about to take over. Even forwards Ian Handshy and Tony Anderson, seldom utilized as scorers, grabbed key rebounds on each end of the floor.

“That’s the whole concept behind what we’re trying to do,” Davis said. “Hopefully there will be 10, 11 or 12 heroes. You just never know who’s going to do it.”

Free State always seemed to answer. After Bechard’s last trey, Harvey countered by hitting a layup and was fouled with 1:24 to play. He missed the free throw, but it was the last time Lawrence was within one possession.

Tyler Blankenship had 14 points, six of them in the clutch with less than five minutes to play. Senior Dain Dillingham, as smooth as ever, led all scorers with 24 points, getting buckets seemingly at will in the second half.

“They’re pretty good defenders,” Dillingham said of LHS, “but they get out of position sometimes as hard as they go and trying to cause as much panic and confusion as they do. We thought we could take advantage of that.”

Lawrence High's Kristian Pope, right, dribbles past a Free State High defender. Free State won, 79-73, Saturday at the Topeka Invitational Tournament at Topeka High.

Free State plays Olathe South, the top-ranked team in Class 6A, Tuesday at Free State. Lawrence has nearly two weeks off before taking on Shawnee Mission South Feb. 6 at LHS.

But perhaps the best news is that the two city teams will meet one last time, Feb. 7 at Lawrence High. If Saturday’s thriller was any indication, both sides will agree round three is up for grabs.

“It’s Lawrence High-Free State,” Schreiner said. “It’s always going to be like this.”