Free State girls roll over SM Northwest, 53-30

Free State sophomore Ashli Hill tosses up a jump-hook against the Shawnee Mission Northwest defense during the Firebirds' win Monday at SM Northwest.

? After a six-point, six-turnover first quarter in a dead gym Monday, the Firebirds could have sleepwalked through the rest of the game at Shawnee Mission Northwest.

Instead, Free State High’s girls basketball team woke up and cruised to a 53-31 victory.

Although offense was hard to come by in the first 11 minutes, that all changed when junior forward Taylor Manning hit a jumper in the lane.

That jumpshot sparked a 9-0 FSHS run that also featured contributions from Ashli Hill and Chantay Caron. From that point on, the Firebirds (7-8 overall, 3-3 Sunflower League) rolled.

“When we really started pressing them I think that not only hurt them, but really picked up our intensity,” coach Bryan Duncan said.

Manning was a catalyst for everything FSHS did. She finished with nine points, 12 rebounds, seven steals and three assists.

“That’s an unbelievable line,” Duncan said. “She really provided a lot of leadership for us and just made plays when we needed to really step it up.”

Manning downplayed the significance of the numbers, despite the impact she had on so many facets of the game.

“I just try to be a team player,” she said. “I do what I can to help my team come out with a win.”

The Firebirds were strong on the glass, grabbing 41 rebounds. Caron was second on the team with 11 boards, while Hill grabbed eight and Ashleigh Allam snagged seven.

Caron led the Firebirds’ scoring attack with 14 points, Hill added 12, and sharp-shooting Wren Wiebe scored eight.

FSHS will return to the court at 5:45 p.m. Friday at Leavenworth.