Nick Devin didn’t make any guarantees about who would win Thursday night’s Free State-Lawrence High basketball showdown.

He was quite certain about what would happen immediately after the game, though.

“You know whichever team’s school wins will storm the court,” the Free State senior guard said.

Last season, it was the Firebirds who stormed the court. Twice.

It was a bit surprising Free State swept last season’s series, considering the Firebirds finished the year 8-13. The Lions finished 11-11.

But records didn’t matter when city bragging rights were on the line.

Plus, Devin knew the style of play of then-junior LHS players Daniel Green, Nick Wagner, John Novotny and Nathan Padia. He said until high school, they played on the same AAU team, the Lawrence Hoopsters, since second grade.

Talk about history.

“We used to hang out together about every weekend,” Devin said. “A lot of our parents are really good friends.”

Devin saw the Green family Saturday at the FSHS-LHS sophomore basketball game. After a few minutes of catching up, Green’s mother asked Devin about Thursday’s matchup, which will take place at Free State.

“Daniel and I get into it a little bit on the court,” Devin said of Green. “Daniel’s mom asked if we would get into it on Thursday. I said, ‘If he’s in between me and the ball, there might be a little problem.'”

Devin’s half-joking reference stems from last year’s rivalry when he and Green scrambled after a loose ball.

“Last year, we got in a little scuffle,” Green, the starting senior LHS point guard, said. “There was a loose ball, and we were just playing hard and got after it.”

The 1999 Lawrence Hoopsters: front row, from left, Evan LaCour, Nathan Padia, Johnny Novotny and Nick DeBiasse; and back row, from left, Jace McNabb, Daniel Green, Nick Devin and Patrick Johnson, with coaches, Rick McNabb, back left, and Dale Johnson, back right. Many of these former teammates will meet as opponents on Thursday.

Green and Devin admitted to being in the heat of the moment. Both said they remain good friends.

“He’s loyal and one of my best friends,” Green said of Devin.

The scuffle was simply a result of their similar styles.

“We’re both physical, and we like to get in the other team’s face on defense,” Green said.

Last season, the odds were stacked against the Firebirds. LHS came into the first game 5-1. Free State was 1-4. Chuck Law was in his first year of coaching at Free State. So how did he do it?

“They key was that we were able to control the tempo in both games,” Law said. “LHS was so good at pushing the ball, but we were able to keep the scoring in the 50s. If either of those games were in the 60s or 70s, we were going to lose.”

This season, both teams enter the game with identical 3-2 records.

“You can throw out the records, because the kids are so familiar with one another,” Law said. “On paper, they were probably the more talented team last year.”

Thursday’s game will be the last the two schools play before a two-week holiday break. Neither team wants to go into the holidays practicing on a sour note.

“Everyone’s talking about it at school,” Devin said. “The whole week of practice, we know. It’s complete focus.”

Free State senior center Christian Ballard started both games of the rivalry last season. He noticed a different level of intensity from Free State’s home crowd when it faced LHS.

“If you make a play against Shawnee Mission North, for instance, everyone’s like, ‘Yeah.’ They clap a little bit,” Ballard said. “If you make a big play against LHS, the students go crazy.”

Thursday night, lifelong friendships will be on a 32-minute standstill on the court.

“I’m going for that ball,” Green said. “I want to win the game.”