An otherwise rough rookie season has included one memorable highlight for Chuck Law.

The Free State High boys basketball coach still is perfect against Lawrence High.

Thanks to a 58-54 non-league victory over LHS back on Dec. 22 of last year – on the Lions’ home floor, no less – Law and his charges earned bragging rights for two full months.

They’ll try to extend that privilege to a full year tonight when the Firebirds play host to their cross-town rivals at 8 p.m. in a contest that not only counts in the Sunflower League standings, but serves as the regular-season finale for both squads and one last tune-up before the onset of Class 6A sub-state play next week.

“Our home court hasn’t been much of a home-court advantage. That’s by our own design,” said Law, lamenting Free State’s 2-4 record while donning its home whites.

“We know our student body is going to be here in mass.”

Of course, LHS will have a vocal contingent of its own that’s not only seeking revenge for the earlier loss, but hoping to instill some confidence in a squad that’s lost four of its last five games.

It’s no secret how the Lions (10-9 overall, 4-6 Sunflower League) will seek their reversal of fortune – by putting the ball in senior point guard Kristian Pope’s hands and asking him to drive a high-octane offense featuring a trio of top-flight three-point gunners in senior Tyler Knight and juniors Chance Riley and Nathan Padia.

Conversely, the Firebirds (7-12, 3-7) will rely on a deliberate attack centered around senior guard Scott Heitshusen and junior post Christian Ballard, and want to find themselves in a similar scenario to the last meeting, when the ability to play keep-away in the final quarter allowed Free State to preserve a late lead.

“We know how they’re going to play, and I suspect that Coach (Chris) Davis is going to cook something up to try to nullify the things that we do well,” Law said. “We know it’s going to be a good test.”