Somebody hung one of those “Older Than Dirt” balloons on the Free State High bench at halftime.

“Hey, I’m not that old,” Free State girls basketball coach Bryan Duncan said. “I’m only 33. Lucky 3s.”

Lucky, indeed.

Free State’s girls edged Shawnee Mission West, 46-44, on Duncan’s birthday Friday in the FSHS gym.

It was the fourth straight victory for the surging Firebirds, who boosted their record to 11-7.

“We won three road games in a row and this one at home,” Free State guard Lauren Kimball said. “I think we’re peaking at the right time.”

Kimball, a 5-foot-7 junior, drilled a pair of clutch free throws with 21.2 seconds showing that proved decisive. The Firebirds had a five-point lead (41-36) with four minutes left, but squandered it.

With 31 ticks remaining, SM West led 44-43, and, moments later, Kimball stepped to the free-throw line.

“I had missed a couple earlier,” Kimball said, “but I told myself it was all mental. As soon as that first one left my hand I knew it was in.”

Her second charity also swished, giving her eight for 11 at the foul stripe and a team-high 16 points. More important, the Firebirds led, 45-44.

SM West turned the ball over on its next trip, and sophomore Sarah Craft added the final point at the line with 10.7 seconds showing.

The Vikings had an opportunity to tie, but Jessika Downing’s 15-footer bounced off at the buzzer.

“We really kept our composure,” Duncan said. “If you watched the girls’ body language, they never faltered. We have three wins this season on our last possession, and I don’t think it’s by accident.”

The Firebirds were eager for a home game following successive victories at SM Northwest (37-36 OT), Leavenworth (50-32) and SM North (76-48).

“We’ve had four quality Sunflower League opponents in a row, three on the road,” Duncan said. “Obviously, we have to continue to get better, though, because highs and lows can happen quickly.”

Jenna Brantley, another junior, added 14 points for the Firebirds. SM West (9-9) had 13 points from Ali Bahr, but no other Vikings were in double figures.

SM West boys 64, Free State 49

Shawnee Mission West weathered a first-half shooting blitz by the Firebirds.

“They’re really good,” Free State coach Chuck Law said of the Vikings. “They’re physical, they’re athletic, and they play well together. That’s why they’re 13-5.”

In the first half, Free State (6-12) hardly resembled a team that had lost four of its last five games. The Firebirds made 13 of 22 shots (59 percent) in the first 16 minutes, and SM West settled for a 34-31 lead at the break.

But Free State went cold in the second half, making just six of 27 shots, and the Vikings pulled away.

David Leonard, a 6-foot-3 junior, led the Vikes with 24 points.

“We pinpointed him as the best shooter we’d seen all year,” Law said of Leonard, “but we didn’t execute on him defensively.”

Anthony Dobson added 15 points, including three of the Vikings’ eight three-point goals. Tyler Lawrence, a KU football signee, had six points.

Junior guard Nick Devin also counted a trio of three-pointers and led the Firebirds with 15 points. Christian Ballard added nine, all in the first half.

Free State’s boys and girls will entertain Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, then close the regular season at home Friday against Lawrence High.