MCPHERSON ? Free State High’s boys basketball squad bounced back in the second round of the McPherson Tournament with a 74-27 victory Friday over Wichita Collegiate.

“They played really well,” FSHS coach Chuck Law said. “We never know what we’re going to get with this team, but they came out with a lot of energy and good focus.”

That energy translated into the Firebirds scoring the game’s first 19 points.

“We were more athletic than they were,” Law said. “Our press (defense) gave them a lot of difficulty, and we converted off of their mistakes. That is something we haven’t been good at, but we capitalized on those today.”

While Kyle Schreiner led the Firebirds (4-7) with 14 points, Law said he really was impressed with the play of Nick Ayre, who had eight points, six rebounds and five assists.

“(Ayre) was really solid,” Law said. “He’s been tremendous for us all season. If he can give us that type of offensive output every game, that will really help out our team.”

Free State will play Newton at 4:15 p.m. today in the fifth-place game.