Leavenworth ? “Three More Left.”

That’s the message Free State High senior Sam Buhler left on the dry-erase board in the Firebirds’ locker room after Free State earned a berth to next week’s Class 6A state boys basketball tournament in Emporia with a dramatic 50-47 victory over Leavenworth on Friday night.

Free State High's Sam Buhler, middle, hugs Matt Green as Danny Pike claps. The Firebirds won their sub-state championship, 50-47, over Leavenworth on Friday night at Leavenworth, earning a trip to next week's Class 6A state tournament in Emporia.

Actually, dramatic wouldn’t be the correct word for this one. In fact, there probably isn’t a single word that could describe how the Firebird seniors erased the heartache of sub-state finals setbacks in each of the past two seasons.

“That last couple of minutes was just unbelievable,” FSHS senior Brady Morningstar said. “I had the most fun ever. I loved this game, and it was the biggest one I’ve ever been a part of.

“I can’t even explain how I feel.”

The Firebirds trailed 11-10 after the first quarter, but looked nothing like the Free State teams that came out of the gates in the previous two games.

Free State had energy, and more importantly, was overflowing with confidence.

The prime example was Morningstar going up for a dunk on a fast-break against Leavenworth’s 6-foot-9 Matt King. The dunk missed, and Morningstar was fouled in the process, but the play showed that Free State meant business.

Just as in Wednesday’s 51-29 sub-state victory against Olathe Northwest, Morningstar began slashing to the hoop and dishing dazzling passes to his teammates for open, easy looks. And it was enough to give the Firebirds a 24-18 halftime advantage.

6Sports video: Firebirds soaring to state Photo Gallery: FSHS vs. Leavenworth FSHS boys basketball schedules/stats

But the Pioneers, playing as visitors in their home gym, opened the second half on a 14-2 run, nearly leaving Free State for dead, leading 37-30 with less than a minute left in the third.

Morningstar, who scored 12 of his game-high 18 points in the first half, finally swished a tear-drop jumper with 5:38 remaining in the game, and that was when the Firebirds made the biggest push they’ve made all year.

Senior Matt Green completed a three-point play on their next possession, and the Firebirds could smell blood. More importantly, his free throw snapped a Free State 0-for-7 streak at the line.

Free State's Brady Morningstar, left, gets hammered on the way to the rim by Leavenworth's Matt King. FSHS beat the Pioneers, 50-47, Friday in Leavenworth to earn a berth to the Class 6A state tournament.

Then, with Free State trailing 44-40, came the play of the game.

Scratch that, the play of the season.

Leavenworth’s Kenny Burns stole the ball and seemingly had a clear path for the easy layup with 3:13 left, but Morningstar appeared out of nowhere to swat the ball from behind at the last second. On the trip back up the floor, Green found Danny Pike, who drilled his only three-point attempt of the night. Free State then took the lead for good on its next possession as Morningstar canned another beauty on the baseline.

Five more Firebird free throws, and it was done.

“Literally, in the second half, he put us on his shoulders and carried us,” FSHS coach Jack Schreiner said. “What a block. I can hardly wait to see that one (on Sunflower Broadband Channel 6).”

It was the seniors who carried this one collectively, though, scoring 48 of Free State’s 50 points.

“With this team, we weren’t expected to be real good,” Schreiner said. “It’s such a cohesive unit, and we just got better and better. If you want to coach, this is what it’s all about, to get a team like this.”