When the calendar flips over to March, Lawrence residents get pretty focused on the fortunes of Kansas Jayhawk basketball, but we should remember to take a look at our high school teams as well.

Congratulations to the Lawrence High and Free State High boys teams, both of which will be heading today to Emporia for the state Class 6A boys basketball tournament. The Lawrence High girls also made it within one win of a state tournament bid.

Athletics are only one area in which our local high school students excel, and it is worth recognizing the effort these youngsters put into not only basketball but debate, scholars bowl and many other high school activities.

The spotlight now will fall on the boys basketball teams, who will be great representatives of Lawrence. There is, perhaps, some special gratification for those who supported the addition of a second public high school in Lawrence a number of years ago despite protests that the two schools’ athletic teams would never measure up to LHS’ previous dominance. Clearly, that wasn’t the case. Lawrence now has two teams, involving twice as many students, headed to the state tournament.

Good luck to the Firebirds and the Lions!