Topeka ? Danny Pike went to the bench because of early foul trouble. Then Sam Buhler went to the hospital because of a nasty gash on his forehead.

Free State High’s boys basketball team didn’t flinch, pulling out a 69-57 victory over Wichita East in a semifinal matchup of Class 6A’s top two teams Friday at the Topeka Invitational Tournament at Highland Park High.

Free State High's Brady Morningstar (30) glides to the hoop past Wichita East's Koury Clayton. The Firebirds beat the Aces, 69-57, Friday night in Topeka to advance to tonight's championship game of the Topeka Invitational Tournament.

“I think that’s one of the gutsiest — if not the gutsiest — performances by our kids,” said Free State coach Jack Schreiner, whose top-ranked team won its seventh straight game. “They had us on the ropes in the third quarter.”

Free State senior Brady Morningstar scored 16 of his 33 points in the first half, and FSHS (9-1) led second-ranked Wichita East (8-3) at the break, 33-30, despite the fact Pike picked up his second foul midway through the first quarter and went to the bench for the rest of the half.

The Firebirds were up, 23-15, with 6:31 left in the second quarter when Buhler — the team’s defensive leader — suffered a head-to-head collision with East guard Sammie Fisher. Play was stopped for several minutes while both players’ cuts were attended to, and the bloody floor was mopped.

Buhler needed stitches and didn’t return. He is questionable for the championship game at 7:30 tonight against unbeaten Highland Park (11-0), the top-ranked team in 5A.

“Sam says he’s going to play, but that’s Sam,” said Schreiner, who talked to his senior guard by phone after the game. “Brady is tremendous, but Sam is the straw that stirs the drink. He gets us in position. He runs the offense.”

The Firebirds led, 39-30, with 6:37 left in the third quarter after Morningstar hit a pair of free throws, but East rallied as FSHS struggled with Buhler out and Pike’s foul total mounting.

“It’s a big win without him because he’s our best player, I think,” Morningstar said of Buhler. “That’s a big part of our team.”

6Sports video: Firebirds reach finals (01-21-05) Photo Gallery: FSHS vs. Wichita East (01-21-05) FSHS boys basketball schedules/stats

Morningstar gave Free State a 41-35 lead midway though the third quarter, but East rallied with a 12-0 run and led, 47-41, late in the quarter.

Then senior Bobby Underwood, who missed his first six shots, sank a three-pointer early in the fourth quarter to ignite FSHS. The Firebirds were 1-for-13 from three-point range in the first three quarters, but Morningstar and Matt Green each hit a three-pointer down the stretch.

Junior reserve Nick Ayre — who helped fill in for Buhler — scored on back-to-back possessions to put Free State back on top, 50-49, with 4:43 to play.

Free State High's Danny Pike (50) fights for a loose ball with Wichita East's Carlin Whitten in the second half. The Firebirds won, 69-57, Friday at Topeka Highland Park.

“I thought Nick Ayre was a big spark playing defense,” Schreiner said. “The last four or five possessions he had his hands on the ball or got us the ball.”

Free State closed the game out at the foul line, sinking 13 of 18 free throws in the fourth quarter. Morningstar, who was 16-of-19 from the line, made eight of 10 in the final quarter.

“If there’s a better player in the state than Brady Morningstar, I want somebody to call me or e-mail me and tell me who it is,” Schreiner said. “I’ll take Brady Morningstar any day.”

Pike added nine points and seven rebounds for Free State. Green and Scott Heitshusen both added seven points.

Carlin Whitten led East with 24 points. The Aces will play Lawrence High (7-3) for third place at 3:30 p.m. today.