Size versus athleticism. In a nutshell, that sums up tonight’s boys high school basketball battle between Lawrence and Free State.

“We have a height advantage,” Lawrence coach Chris Davis said, “and they have probably a quickness advantage. That’s about it.”

Free State coach Chuck Law seconds the motion.

“I think that’s a pretty fair,” Law said of Davis’s assessment. “Size goes to them, and quickness slightly to us.”

Tipoff will be at approximately 7:15 p.m. in the Lions’ gym.

All five of the Lions’ starters stand at least 6 feet, including 6-foot-7 John Schneider and 6-6 Baba Diallo. Meanwhile, the Firebirds have no starter taller than 6-4 Weston Wiebe, and point guard Kris Wilson measures just 5-9.

Free State, however, has some jackrabbits.

“We don’t have big guys,” Law said, “but we have some guys who can run.”

That includes Wiebe and Wilson who scored 25 and 21 points, respectively, in Free State’s impressive 67-57 win at Olathe South last Friday.

“Those two guys are the catalysts,” Davis said. “I’ve been impressed. Both will obviously have an impact on the outcome of the game.”

Free State has surged to a 4-1 start while Lawrence High (3-2) took a step backward last Friday at Shawnee Mission Northwest in suffering a 75-43 throttling.

Are the Lions that bad? Or is SM Northwest that good?

“They’re that good,” Davis said. “And we’re not that bad. They came out hitting their shots, we got behind and our youthfulness got the best of us.”

Davis has only two players – Schneider and junior guard Dorian Green – who played on the varsity last season.

“The rest of them were either JV or soph guys, so it’s been a big step,” Davis said. “I knew it would be mid-January before this team came around.”

In other words, Davis expects his inexperienced squad will be much better when the Lions and Firebirds meet again Feb. 22 at Free State than they will be tonight.

“We’re pretty well rounded,” Davis said. “We have an inside-outside game. The kids like each other, so the chemistry is there. Tonight’s game is the type we need to play in order to mature.”

Free State has a slight edge in the maturity quotient. While Davis has just two returning varsity players, Law had only three – Wiebe, Wilson and forward Chris Rosenstengle.

“I’d say we’re pretty much even on that count,” Law said. “So largely it will come down to the role players.”

After tonight, neither team will play again until after the holidays – Lawrence High at Olathe Northwest on Jan. 4 and Free State at home against Topeka High on Jan. 5.