Not even winning a Sunflower League title on Senior Night could make Free State High senior Brady Morningstar smile too enthusiastically.

OK, so the Firebirds’ standout did crack a quick smirk after his two late free throws secured a 48-45 boys basketball victory over Shawnee Mission East on Tuesday at FSHS.

But as soon as Free State’s five seniors were done hugging and high-fiving at halfcourt, Morningstar reminded his teammates that securing their first-ever league crown should not be the third-ranked Firebirds’ only accomplishment this season.

“I love it. This was a huge win for us,” said a smiling Morningstar, who led Free State with 18 points.

“But this doesn’t make our season at all. We have bigger goals than winning this game or the Sunflower League title. Still, it was a fun one.”

Indeed.

Consider that the game went down to the final 2.2 seconds … make that 3.6 … or maybe 3.2. Heck, technically it might have been even longer.

Down 46-45, the Lancers got the ball back on a turnover with 55 seconds left, and SM East then dribbled the clock down to 20 ticks before taking a timeout.

Junior forward Garrett Webb made his move to the basket, putting up a short jumper at the 10-second mark which rimmed out.

Free State High's Sam Buhler (34) fights off a pair of Shawnee Mission East players for a loose ball. Buhler and the Firebirds held off the Lancers, 48-45, Tuesday night at FSHS to claim their first Sunflower League championship.

Lancer big man J.D. Christie — who led all scorers with 26, including two three-pointers in the final two minutes — positioned himself for what looked to be the game-winning tipin, but the ball barely spun out of the cylinder and eventually was corralled by Morningstar with 2.2 showing.

The referees wound the clock back to 3.6 seconds, and Morningstar hit his two charities. On the impending throw-in SM East hit the backboard, but retained possession when the refs determined a Firebird touched the ball first — thus the deduction of another four-tenths of a second.

After all that drama, the Lancers completed a touchdown pass, but only after the ball first was bobbled by both teams. Finally, SME guard Will Gates grabbed it and chucked up an awkward trey while initiating what seemed to be a foul at the same time.

However, time clearly had expired from the first touch of the ball by a Firebird and the buzzer sounding late because of the starter’s delayed reaction.

“TURN THE CLOCK ON,” shouted Free State coach Jack Schreiner in the direction of the scorer’s table, while at the same time flashing a relieved smile that showed just how big the narrow victory was for his 16-3 squad.

6Sports video: Free State boys win 1st Sunflower League title Photo gallery: FSHS vs. Shawnee Mission East

“Technically, the game should have been over, because in my opinion I don’t think we touched the ball on the throw-in,” Schreiner said. “Nonetheless this was a great basketball game, played by what I think are the top two teams in the league.”

Somehow, though, even while Schreiner shared his pleasantries with reporters after his first league title, Morningstar’s words must have reverberated in his mind.

“As soon as we got in the locker room Brady took one look at our markerboard which had Sunflower Champs written on it and calmed everyone down real quick,” Schreiner said. “He just simply told everyone that our season’s goals were not completed with this win.

“Hopefully, we have six more games remaining, and that starts with Olathe North on Friday.”

Free State's Jamie Stanclift, left, drives against SM East's Kristen Fisher. Stanclift led the Firebirds with 22 points, but the Lancers rallied for a 59-56 victory Tuesday night at Free State.

SM East girls 59, Free State 56

Unfortunately for the Firebirds’ girls basketball fans, Senior Night wasn’t so sweet.

Despite holding an 11-point advantage with seven minutes to go, Free State fell in the final seconds when SM East’s Sarah Parker drilled six of her-game high 28 points on back-to-back threes.

“What can you say?” said FSHS coach Bryan Duncan, whose team fell to 7-12. “I definitely don’t imagine this was the way our two seniors (Chloe Hall and Jamie Stanclift) wanted to end their careers at home.”

Stanclift actually had a decent finale when she scored a team-best 22 points, but both she and Lauren Kimball had to be kicking themselves because they couldn’t connect on short shots in the closing minutes.