Topeka ? Free State High basketball coach Jack Schreiner had been waiting for Bobby Underwood to have a game like this.

Free State High's Danny Pike (50) passes the ball against Topeka High. The Firebirds won Thursday in Topeka.

Underwood scored a season-high 15 points Thursday afternoon in the first round of the Topeka Invitational, and the Firebirds rolled to a 73-37 victory over Topeka High at Highland Park.

“He’s been on me pretty good,” Underwood said of his coach. “I just have to focus. I know I can shoot it.”

Things didn’t start well for Underwood and FSHS, Class 6A’s top-rated team in the coaches poll.

“I dribbled off my foot on the first play of the game,” said Underwood, a senior guard. “I knew I had to do something or I was going to be coming out of the game.”

With the game tied at 2, Underwood sank a three-pointer, and Free State (8-1) led the rest of the way against the Trojans (2-7). Underwood finished 5-of-10 from the field with all but one of his attempts coming from three-point range.

“We were moving the ball real well,” Underwood said, “and that gave me some open looks.”

Free State finished with 20 assists. Senior guard Matt Green led FSHS in that category with seven and had three of the Firebirds’ 13 steals. Topeka finished with 25 turnovers.

6Sports video: Free State boys win on the road (01-20-05) Photo Gallery: FSHS vs. Topeka High

“Our press was really good today,” said senior guard Brady Morningstar, who scored 10 of his 22 points in the first quarter. “The tip from behind got us some breaks and easy layups.”

Green repeatedly found Morningstar in transition, and Free State’s offensive leader scored seven consecutive points during a 17-0 run that gave FSHS a 28-6 lead early in the second quarter.

Free State High's Sam Buhler, front, makes a pass against Topeka High. The Firebirds won, 73-37, Thursday in Topeka.

The Firebirds led 36-13 at halftime, and Underwood hit two three-pointers early in third quarter as Free State widened the gap to 42-17.

“If he comes along like we expected, it makes us that much more difficult to defend,” Schreiner said.

With an insurmountable lead, Schreiner played his reserves early and often. Sophomore Kyle Schreiner responded with a career-high 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting.

“He was pretty pumped,” Schreiner said of his son. “I’m happy for him.”

Free State’s starters should be rested for a 6:45 p.m. game tonight against Wichita East. East (8-2), the second-ranked team in 6A, claimed a 63-52 victory over Topeka West (6-2), the No. 3 team in 5A.

“We’ll find out how good we really are,” said Schreiner, whose team has won six straight games. “It’s pick your poison with this next game.”