The one word that comes to mind when you think of the Free State High girls basketball team this year is speed.

If opponents full-court press the Firebirds, coming off a 15-8 season, they’ll have to be in top-notch condition to do so. Seniors Lauren Kimball and Jenna Brantley move the ball down the court with ease. Kimball, a McDonalds All-American nominee, and Brantley comprise one of the best backcourts in the Sunflower League.

“Lauren handles pressure well, forcing teams not to be able to press us, and sets up other people well,” Free State coach Bryan Duncan said. “Jenna’s more of a combo guard. She’s a tremendous ball handler herself, but also a natural scorer. She can really shoot the three and get to the basket.”

Senior forward Kelsey Harrison, along with Kimball and Brantley, have played three years of varsity basketball.

“Kelsey might be the heart and soul of this team,” Duncan said. “Her numbers don’t always stick out, but she does the little things that allow some of the high-profile players to be more successful.”

Other contributors will be seniors Jessica Scott, who started last year as a junior, and Allie Hock, junior Sarah Craft, and sophomore Taylor Manning.

The Firebirds lost in the first round of the Class 6A state playoffs last season against Wichita South. On Saturday, Free State will play host to Maize in its first game this season.

Crosstown rival Lawrence High is coming off a 9-12 season that saw it lose in the first round of sub-state against Free State. Sixth-year coach Kristen Mallory said to expect a different, more youth-

oriented Lions team this season.

Girls basketball players, from left, Seabury Academy's Molly Thurman, Lawrence High's Katelyn Hobbs, Free State's Lauren Kimball and Veritas Christian's Kristie Tiegreen are expected to lead the city's teams this season.

“You should see much more man-to-man,” Mallory said about the Lions’ defensive plans. “We’ve played a lot of zone in the past couple years.”

But with sophomore guard Taylor Bird, junior guard/forward Danielle Bird and sophomore forward Tania Jackson, LHS has more speed than in years past, allowing it to play man-to-man defense. With the aforementioned inexperience, Mallory said she would stress last season’s flaws to this year’s players right away.

“We need to do two things better. We need to defend better and extend our defense a little bit with a little more pressing,” Mallory said. “And then we need to be much more aggressive.”

The Lawrence High starting lineup isn’t as predictable as Free State’s. While the Bird sisters and Jackson have the most upside, Danielle Bird, a second-team all-league player last season is the only virtual lock in the starting lineup. Jackson could provide added crowd interest from a rumor that Mallory mentioned.

“Tania was a high jumper in junior high,” Mallory said of Jackson. “They say she can grab the rim. But I haven’t seen it yet.”

The Lions also will look to contributions from seniors Sydney Tolefree, Katelyn Hobbs, Hannah Somers and Abby Vestal, junior Lindsey Murray and sophomore Tayler Tolefree.

Lawrence will play host to Washburn-Rural in its first game on Friday.

While Lawrence and Free State will look to guards for leadership this season, Seabury Academy will look inside to senior forward Molly Thurman. Seabury lost 80 percent of its scoring from three graduated seniors last year. Third-year coach Nick Taylor said this year’s trio of seniors – Thurman, Jen Crawford and Lane Frizell – would account for much of the Seahawks’ scoring.

“I want to pound the ball into the post as much as we can,” Taylor said. “I think if we work off Molly, everything else will fall into place. She can be dominating if she wants to with her ability to rebound.”

Seabury finished last season 9-12 and lost in the second round of regionals.

Taylor doesn’t have any juniors on the team, but has a group of sophomores – namely Melissa Burch, Bria Phipps and Gabrielle Dillon – ready to gain early experience on the court.

Veritas Christian coach Kevin Shelton has the Eagles playing competitive basketball in just their second year. Veritas finished last season 12-13, good for sixth place in the Kansas Christian Athletic Association state tournament.

The Eagles will look to junior forward Kristie Tiegreen for the majority of their scoring this season.

“The strengths of her game are rebounding and general athleticism,” Shelton said of the 5-foot-10 Tiegreen. “That’s where she usually takes control of the game. She jumps very well from being a gymnast.”

Other significant players will include junior guard/forward Marteka Carlton, sophomore guard Taelyr Shelton and freshman guard/forward Susan Wilson.

Veritas will play host to Topeka Cair-Paravel, which defeated it three times last season, on Dec. 8 in the Eagles’ home opener.