Free State senior Sarah Craft soars over the Shawnee Heights defense during the Firebirds' basketball game against SHHS in this file photo from Dec. 7 during the Bonner Springs Metro Prep Classic. Craft and the Firebirds will face city rival Lawrence High tonight.

Any questions as to who would lead this year’s Free State High girls basketball team were put to rest early in the season.

After a midweek practice in late November, the Firebirds met at center court as they customarily do at the end of each session. A short breakdown and a few words of wisdom from FSHS coach Bryan Duncan were followed by a telling sign. All but one member of the team took a seat and waited for further instructions. The one member was senior guard Sarah Craft.

Craft, known on the team as “Momma Craft,” stood at midcourt, fielding questions about plans for the school’s “Raise the Roof” winter sports kickoff night. Sure, the girls were just planning out which dances to dance and what songs to sing, but the groundwork for leadership was laid at the same time.

The girls sat quietly and listened to Craft’s gameplan for “Raise the Roof.” When they had something to say, they politely raised their hands and waited to speak until Craft called on them.

It might have seemed rigid on the surface, but backed by Craft’s natural leadership qualities, the moment had been several years in the making.

“I’m pretty much a natural-born leader,” Craft said. “Anything I’m involved in, I like to take control of.”

Her penchant for leadership surfaced early in her life. Craft was the Student Council president at Deerfield Elementary School and has been in charge of several activities and clubs throughout her high school career.

This year, after a few seasons as a role player, Craft’s take-charge attitude has spilled onto the basketball court. As a junior, Craft kept a low profile, sometimes awkwardly taking a back seat to the team’s boisterous group of seniors. She chipped in off the bench and knew her role wasn’t to be a leader or a scorer. It worked. The Free State girls, led by a strong senior class, finished third at the state tournament in Emporia.

This year, Craft has plans to make it back to Emporia. If the Firebirds do, it’ll be in large part because Craft takes them there.

“This definitely feels like a different year,” Craft said. “I like being the leader. I’m pretty confident in myself and my ability. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”

A few of Craft’s teammates, who also served as role players a season ago, have seen a transformation in their team’s most experienced player. They began to see it this summer at camp. That extended into preseason conditioning and tryouts. Now they’re getting a first-hand look at everything Craft can do.

“I think she was waiting for this year to come,” junior guard Rosie Hull said. “I could tell in camp. She just took charge.”

Rosie’s twin sister Maggie teams with Craft to form the team’s starting back court, and she, too, has seen a new side of Craft.

“Last year, she definitely kept to herself more,” Maggie said. “But this year, it’s totally different. You couldn’t ask for a better senior. She’s a great role model on and off the court. When people talk, she listens.”

Occasionally, Craft even seeks out the chance to listen.

“Most of the whole team will get a call from me on the weekends,” she said. “I just like to check in with them, see how they’re doing and make sure they’re staying out of trouble.”

Talk about taking leadership to the highest level.

In four games this season, Craft’s leadership has been the steadying factor on a team still trying to find itself. She’s led the team in scoring in each game and has shown the ability to handle the ball, shoot from the outside and score inside.

“She’s just such a smart player,” Duncan said. “She knows the game so well and really uses that to her advantage.”

Never will that be more important than tonight, when Craft’s Firebirds take on crosstown rival Lawrence High.

Craft was a key part of three Free State victories over LHS last season, including one that sent the Firebirds to state. With those memories fresh in her mind, she’s not ready to see the streak end any time soon.

“I’ve only lost once to them and that was the first game of my sophomore year,” Craft said. “So the streak’s a little bit longer for me.”

Tonight’s tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. at LHS.