Jenna Brantley is waiting for the perfect time to give her teammates extra motivation for tonight’s Class 6A sub-state game against Leavenworth.

“Especially for me, I really want to beat Leavenworth because when I was a sophomore, they beat me coming into the first game of sub-state, so it’s kind of revenge for us,” the senior guard said. “I haven’t told anybody. I was just going to save it for right before the game.”

Tipoff is set for 7 tonight.

Free State is familiar with Leavenworth for a few reasons. The Firebirds defeated the Pioneers, 47-39, on Feb. 9 in the Firebirds’ gym. Leavenworth also likes to play at a fast tempo, similar to the pace Free State plays.

The critical difference is Free State (14-6) has been able to control its fast-paced tempo. The Pioneers, on the other hand, were 3-10 when they visited Lawrence earlier in the month. They’re currently 3-17.

“Speed-wise, I think they can definitely match us,” senior forward Kelsey Harrison said. “But they don’t have that many big girls, so we need to take advantage of it down low and feed the ball into our posts.”

Leavenworth doesn’t start anyone taller than 5-foot-9. Free State will likely start Harrison (5-11), senior Jessica Scott (5-11) and sophomore Taylor Manning (6-0) tonight.

The Pioneers kept the first meeting close at halftime, with the score reading 19-19. With active hands on defense, Leavenworth actually forced more turnovers (15) than Free State (11).

“We have very good ball-handlers, but quite frankly, they’re one of the few teams this year that’s been able to take the ball from us when we try to dribble penetrate, and that’s something we like to do,” Free State coach Bryan Duncan said. “Defensively, they’re very good and very active, and they can really get in the passing lanes and create problems.”

As a result of Leavenworth’s athleticism, Duncan said he would pick his moments to full-court press the Pioneers. Typically, Free State full-court presses more than half the time in close games.

If Free State advances, it would potentially set up part three of the intracity showdown between FSHS and Lawrence High, pending an LHS victory against Shawnee Mission Northwest tonight. The game would be Saturday at Olathe Northwest.

“Honestly, that hasn’t even come up once from our players or coaches,” Duncan said. “We’re certainly smart enough to know that a lot can happen between now and Saturday.”

¢Brantley probable: Duncan held Brantley out of practice Tuesday because of a swelling rash on her legs. The rash was a reaction to strep throat. Brantley practiced Wednesday.

“My joints are kind of sore and my throat hurts pretty bad,” Brantley said Tuesday.

If the swelling gets worse before tonight, Free State has capable backups. It could start senior guard Allie Hock, who now comes off the bench. Duncan could go with a post-oriented lineup and start junior forward Sarah Craft, who, along with Hock, is usually one of the first players off the bench.