There’s no disagreement between the coaches about the key for tonight’s Lawrence High-Free State girls basketball game at LHS.

“The number one factor is pace,” LHS coach Kristin Mallory said. “It’s our pace or their pace. Whoever gets to play the way they want to play has a great chance to come out on top.”

Free State coach Bryan Duncan agreed and made no bones about the fact that his Firebirds (3-1) would look to slow the Lions (4-0) down.

“The biggest keys are going to be composure and tempo,” Duncan said. “We have to keep our composure in order to control the tempo.”

On paper, the clash figures to be a classic mismatch: Free State’s size and strength against LHS’s quickness and athleticism. A deeper look, however, divulges that both teams have elements of the other’s strengths, as well.

“It’s not as cut and dry as their guards against our post players,” Duncan said. “At all positions, they’re more perimeter players and ballhandlers and we’re more power and strength. But I don’t want to take anything away from their post players or our guards.”

Lawrence High enters the contest riding high after winning four straight to open the season. The Lions boast six players who average seven points-per-game or more, including sophomore guard Haley Parker, who leads the team in scoring with 11 points-per-game.

But the team’s leaders in the experience department are sisters Danielle and Taylor Bird. Both have logged big-time minutes against the Firebirds in the past and both are dying to beat their crosstown rivals.

“I’ve just always loved the Free State game because it’s so loud,” Taylor Bird said. “This is a big game for us. It’s a home game, and a win would make our winter break more enjoyable.”

While the Lions are led by a talented group of guards, Free State’s focus is in the paint. The Firebirds start three players who stand 6-foot or taller and Duncan said in order to have success the Firebirds have to pound the ball inside.

“Our emphasis certainly is going to be scoring points in the paint,” he said. “And we’re going to try to prevent them from killing us with the three.”

The Free State girls have won five straight in the series, including all three match-ups a season ago. But tonight’s game is as much about a changing of the guard for both teams as it is about past outcomes.

“We’ve been talking about how good this Lawrence High team would be since we were in fifth-grade,” Free State guard Maggie Hull said. “And now I’m just so ready to play them.”

Although a total of five players will see their first start against the opposing school, Mallory said she believed experience would be a factor.

“In the past, the team with the more experienced basketball players has won,” she said. “And I think we have more experienced basketball players, which is weird since we’re so sophomore-heavy.”

Duncan wasn’t so sure.

“I don’t think the experience factor has as much to do with it this year,” he said. “Truth be told, we both have some nice players returning and some new players emerging.”