Had it not been for a dreadful shooting performance in the first quarter, the Free State High boys basketball team might have joined its female counterparts in bringing home third place from the Metro Prep Classic.

But 3-of-12 shooting by the Firebirds, combined with a lights-out, 11-of-16 quarter by Topeka Seaman proved to be too much to overcome, and Free State dropped its second game in two days.

After trailing 25-9 after the opening quarter, the Firebirds played some of their best basketball of the season during the next 12 minutes. FSHS trailed 34-26 at the break and sliced the Seaman lead to three — 39-36 — before running out of gas and reverting into making costly mistakes that have plagued the Firebirds in the early portion of this season.

“We just have moments here or there where we need a good possession or we need to work to get a good shot, and then we turn it over,” FSHS coach Chuck Law said. “Those hurt, and we’re at the point now where we’re struggling to find an identity and trying to find combinations of guys who play well together. But I was pleased that we didn’t stay on the mat. We fought our way back and had an opportunity to make a game of it.”

Free State played 11 players in Saturday’s loss, all of them receiving varying minutes.

But one player whose minutes stood out most was senior Chase Hoag. Hoag finished with four points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal. But it was his effort, more than his output, that made his day memorable.