Overland Park ? Chuck Law had the numbers – and the frustration – at the tip of his tongue.

Following another so-close-but-not-close-enough setback – a 55-51 overtime loss to Shawnee Mission West on Friday – Free State High’s boys basketball coach rattled off a list of trends as to why it keeps heading down the same frustrating road.

Seven games lost by a combined 18 points. A 1-8 record when shooting fewer free throws than the opponent.

On and on and on.

“Poor execution in critical moments down the stretch,” an agitated Law said. “Ultimately, a reflection on the head coach as we continually lose close games.”

Free State (9-9) climbed back in a game that could’ve been done after scoring just four first-quarter points at Shawnee Mission West High. Riding the imposing presence of Christian Ballard inside, the Firebirds managed to stay close and then took a 40-39 lead with 2:59 left on a Ballard three-point play.

It then went back-and-forth, until a missed baseline shot by Free State at the buzzer forced overtime with the game tied 45-all.

There, the Firebirds’ demons showed up again to spoil the party.

SM West scored the first five points before two Anthony Russell three-pointers changed the lead again. But a costly turnover, coupled with fouling a solid free-throw shooter with less than 30 seconds left, sealed another tight loss for FSHS.

“We need to build some team unity. We have none right now,” Ballard said. “We have way too many people doing their own thing.”

Ballard led Free State with 20 points and 11 rebounds, using his physicality to get good positioning and grab key rebounds. But he had just five shots – and one free-throw attempt – after halftime.

“I want most of the offense to go through him,” Law said. “When we go inside, and that becomes the focus of this team and we play off of that, we’re really good. When we become too perimeter-oriented, and our big guys aren’t active enough, we’re average to bad.”

Weston Wiebe added 12 points, while 5-foot-9 guard Nick Devin snagged seven boards.

SM West 38, Free State girls 36

It wasn’t much better in the first game of the doubleheader.

The Firebirds built a 31-19 lead late in the third quarter before watching it evaporate in an almost incredulous fashion.

“We’re usually a very composed team in the fourth quarter,” FSHS coach Bryan Duncan said. “We just started doing things that we don’t normally do, and Shawnee Mission West played very well.”

Free State (12-6) was outscored, 15-5, in the last quarter, a frustrating eight-minute stretch where shots just wouldn’t go down.

On one possession, the Firebirds grabbed four offensive rebounds, but missed all five of their shots. Meanwhile, SM West slowly climbed back in the contest on the other end.

The Vikings took a 36-34 lead with 2:22 left, but a Sarah Craft jumper with 1:01 remaining tied the game back up at 36-all.

SM West would strike last, though, with Brit Bahr nailing a close jumper with 4.8 seconds left. Free State was unable to get close enough for a clean shot on the other end.

Lauren Kimball played solid basketball for the Firebirds, tallying 17 points and setting up teammates nicely with her passing. Craft and Kelsey Harrison added eight points each.

Free State will finish its regular season next week with road games at Olathe Northwest and Lawrence High.

“We really need our two games next week against two teams that are in our sub-state and have similar records as us,” Duncan said. “Those games were going to be big anyway. This was a measuring stick to see where we’re at, because (SM West) is a team that we could see in the state tournament.”