Last week I examined how the city high school boys basketball teams, in light of their performances in tournament play this season, might fare once postseason play tips off at the end of this month.

Now, it’s time to give equal billing and analysis to the four girls programs:

¢Lawrence High – Representing one of the largest schools in the state may turn out to be a blessing for the Lions. It means there won’t be any Class 5A foes on the schedule come playoff time.

Roeland Park Miege, Overland Park Aquinas and Topeka Seaman each took their turn battering LHS (7-7), the first two losses coming at the early season Shawnee Heights Invitational, with the third taking place at last month’s Firebird Winter Classic. Overall, the Lions finished just 2-4 at those tournaments.

On the flip side, LHS carried a 4-1 mark in Sunflower League play into Monday night’s road trip to Shawnee Mission South, good for a tie for second place with Olathe East. The Lions also own a win against rival Free State in a non-league contest played prior to Christmas.

A strong finish would mean a high seed in the Class 6A sub-state field and a legitimate shot at joining heavyweight Olathe South as the two teams headed to Emporia for the big dance.

¢Free State – Genetics have made sure Firebirds coach Bryan Duncan doesn’t have a lot of hair to pull out. That’s a good thing given his ballclub’s enigmatic persona.

Free State’s talented junior class and a trio of role-playing seniors can be impressive when they’re all on the same page, as was the case during the program’s first-ever tournament championship in December at the Bonner Springs Invitational. The Firebirds (7-7) also looked good in the first two games of their own Firebird Winter Classic. However, the youngsters have shown a tendency to disappear on a rotating basis during Sunflower League play, leading to a handful of lopsided losses.

At 2-3 in league action entering Monday night’s game against Shawnee Mission Northwest, Free State has the heavy lifting out of the way. Only one team with a winning record – Lawrence – remains on the schedule, providing an opportunity to develop a consistent approach in preparation for postseason play.

• 6Sports video: Lawrence High’s girls battle Shawnee Mission South

¢Seabury Academy – After a solid 4-1 start, including two victories in a season-opening tournament in Olathe, the Seahawks (5-9) have slipped.

Simply put, Seabury struggles to score. In their last nine games, coach Nick Taylor’s squad has topped the 30-point barrier just twice, and during three losses at last month’s West Franklin Invitational, the Seahawks managed just 40 – total.

Unless dependable scoring options suddenly develop, the prognosis isn’t good for a trip beyond Class 1A regional play.

¢Veritas Christian – The Eagles (7-9) have shown several positive signs during their inaugural varsity season.

After suffering a three-point loss in its opening game at the early season Shea Invitational, Veritas bounced back with a pair of double-digit wins. The Eagles have also proven to be a tough out in overtime, winning twice while showing a late-game resolve that’s sometimes missing when relying on a youth-laden roster.

Expect this year’s trip to the Kansas Christian Athletic Assn. tournament to be a learning experience and building block for Year 2 of the varsity era.