Picture a pitch-black gym during after-hours at Free State High. This is the scene in October, when most attention is on the gridiron for the eventual Kansas Class 6A state semifinalist Free State football team. After football practice, cars exit the parking lots, leaving the school vacant.

Hear the pindrop yet?

This is the type of atmosphere Sarah Craft and her work-while-everyone-else-sleeps mentality welcomes.

“My family calls me ‘gym rat,'” said Craft, a junior forward and former manager of the football team. “I convinced coach (Bob) Lisher that after I managed, I got to shoot around.”

A similar feeling of dedication has resulted in a 13-6 season for the Free State girls, with one game left in the regular season Friday at Lawrence High.

It will be difficult to part ways with Lauren Kimball, Jenna Brantley, Kelsey Harrison, Jessica Scott and Allie Hock, who coach Bryan Duncan said put Free State girls basketball on the map. But after the LHS game, Class 6A sub-state and possibly a trip to the state tournament, the quintet of seniors will move on.

Luckily for Free State, it has Craft and sophomore center Taylor Manning.

Next season the Firebirds, who rely so heavily upon guards Kimball and Brantley, could actually transform into a post-oriented team, led by the two returning players with the most varsity experience – Craft and Manning.

“We’ve never really had a lot of true post presences at Free State,” Duncan said. “We’ve always been an up-tempo team, and certainly will continue to be an up-tempo team. But we really will have an opportunity to have a lot of skilled size next year, and that’s certainly something that will affect how we play offense and defense.”

With FIVE varsity players graduating this year, Free State will rely on junior forward Sarah Craft, left, and sophomore center Taylor Manning to take the reins next season.

Craft’s versatility could help her replace Harrison, who might have the toughest task of any Free State player. Harrison typically defends the opposition’s best player, has the ability to handle the ball on the perimeter and plays post. She does all of this while averaging 10 points and six rebounds per game.

“We certainly will expect that of Sarah,” Duncan said.

Craft, who comes off the bench this season, said she’d welcome the challenge.

“Defensively, Kelsey’s the ultimate glove,” Craft said. “Normally, when Kelsey’s out, I get in next. I think I’m kind of similar to her in wingspan.”

Manning will be as close to a lock as the Firebirds will have in the starting lineup next season. After all, she’s already started half the season as a sophomore.

“It’s nerve-racking, but I think it will benefit me,” Manning said of her starting experience. “It’s definitely good for me to go through this now instead of later.”

Duncan said for such a young age, Manning has been extremely coachable, possesses a great work ethic and has blended in well. Next year, expect Manning, who only plays in the post this year, to become more of a dual threat and establish a perimeter game.

“I’d really like to see her improve on her assertiveness,” Duncan said of Manning. “If she becomes more and more assertive in leadership roles becoming a junior and senior, she’s going to be a very special player.”

FREE STATE HIGH JUNIOR SARAH CRAFT hooks a pass around Lawrence High's Tania Jackson, front, and Taylor Bird. With its experienced senior backcourt set to graduate, Craft, a forward, will be a key performer on next year's Firebirds squad.

The Firebirds have another frontcourt presence on the way from Southwest Junior High. Freshman Ashli Hill, who stands at 6-4 and has garnered attention from several Division I colleges, is expected to make immediate impact in Duncan’s system.

“She can run the floor and has tremendous hands,” Duncan said.

Essentially, Craft has the ability to play the two, three or four position. If she takes Harrison’s spot at the three, could you imagine a frontcourt of Craft, a 6-0 Manning, and Hill?

“There’s obviously going to be a pretty good chance of getting the ball inside and making sure we have post dominance, because we’ll just be taller than everyone else,” Craft said. “That’s a pretty strong front.”

Craft and Manning said they’d both played with or against Hill in the past.

“She’s got some pretty good moves around the basket,” Craft said of Hill. “Since she’s so wide, she takes up a lot of room, and I think the intimidation factor will play a role, too.”

The starting guards aren’t as set in stone for next season. Sophomore guard Maggie Hull has varsity experience and could be a starting option next season. Hull started two games when Brantley was forced to miss time with a left ankle injury. Maggie’s sister, Rosie, has seen some time at the varsity level as well.

Another impact player could be freshman Wren Wiebe, younger sister of junior forward Weston Wiebe. Wren Wiebe runs the point for West Junior High.

No matter whom Duncan chooses as guards, one thing is almost certain: They’ll become very familiar with feeding the ball into the post.