LHS stuns top-ranked Firebirds

An improbable victory for Lawrence High’s boys basketball team almost was wiped out by an improbable Free State comeback that fell just short.

In the end, though, LHS stunned the top-ranked Firebirds, 44-42, on Saturday at FSHS.

Free State’s Bobby Underwood brought the game within two with a three-point shot with just two seconds remaining. Then, Free State’s Sam Buhler plucked the ensuing inbound pass and launched a three-point shot that would have won the game for the Firebirds.

The ball bounced in and then out of the basket as the clock expired, however, and Lawrence’s stunning victory was complete.

The raucous crowd at Free State’s gym was held in limbo as the shot sailed through the air and appeared to be on target.

“I thought the shot was in,” Free State coach Jack Schreiner said. “Of course, if the shot goes in, then I think the roof caves in, and everyone’s hurt.”

Instead, the pain was reserved for Schreiner’s team as it watched LHS and its fans rejoice.

The game appeared headed Free State’s way when the Firebirds opened the fourth quarter with a 10-1 run to negate the nine-point advantage the Lions held.

Free State’s Nick Ayre tied the game at 39 with a free throw, but Lawrence’s Brennan Bechard scored four of Lawrence’s last five points to give the Lions just enough cushion.

Lawrence High's Chance Riley (22) shoots over Free State's Scott Heitshusen during the second half of the Lions' 44-42 victory. LHS won the city showdown Saturday at FSHS.

Bechard was nearly impossible for Free State to stop, with several drives inside that Lawrence coach Chris Davis said probably took Free State’s defense by surprise.

“He took it to the rack a couple of times really hard,” Davis said. “I think most people think of him as a three-point shooter, but don’t realize how well he takes it to the basket.”

Free State’s David Freeman joked afterward that Bechard finally showed what he was capable of on the court.

“Brennan showed some heart tonight,” Freeman said. “I never thought Brennan had heart, but he showed it tonight.”

Freeman showed some heart of his own as he faced the daunting task of guarding Free State’s Brady Morningstar, who has averaged 19 points this season.

Morningstar scored 17 against Lawrence, but rarely saw the ball in the closing minutes due to Freeman’s relentless defense.

The rest of Lawrence’s defense, along with missed opportunities by Free State early on when Lawrence’s offense was unproductive, kept Free State behind for most of the game.

Schreiner said his team was too excited for the big-game atmosphere and couldn’t run offenses like it had practiced.

“In the first six, seven minutes, we didn’t run anything. We were just helter-skelter running around,” Schreiner said. “I think it’s the emotions of the game, the fact that it’s a packed house.”

The defeat ended the Firebirds’ winning streak at 10, while the Lions got their second victory in the last five games.