It did not take long for the Free State High boys basketball team to move past its loss to Lawrence High on Friday and ahead to tonight’s sub-state matchup with Olathe North.

“We have to forget about this one,” Free State senior Kris Wilson said minutes after Friday’s 51-47 setback. “Come Thursday, we have to get it done, and come Saturday we have to get it done again. Right now, it’s all about getting back to Emporia.”

And with that, the 20 games that made up the Firebirds season vanished. It’s something that happens every year, regardless of record. And it’s something FSHS coach Chuck Law doesn’t exactly love.

“Records are irrelevant at this time of year,” Law said. “That’s the nature of the beast created by March Madness. This is the trickle-down of that, and we don’t have any choice but to embrace it.”

A year ago, Free State entered sub-state with a 9-11 overall record, 4-7 in the Sunflower League. The Firebirds got hot, won two straight at sub-state and rode the wave all the way to a third-place finish at state.

Today, with a handful of players from that 13-12 team still playing, Law’s team enters the postseason with a 13-7 record, 7-4 in the Sunflower League.

The first obstacle standing in the way of another state run is Olathe North. The Firebirds and Eagles met back in January at FSHS, with O-North winning, 59-57 in overtime. Free State struggled with North’s size in that one, surrendering a combined 37 points and 18 rebounds to ONHS low-post starters Jordyn Chamberlin and Jermaine Bransford. In addition, the Eagles outrebounded Free State by a healthy margin.

With today’s 7 p.m. tipoff at FSHS being a do-or-die situation, Law said the focus for his team would be on the Olathe North big men.

“Size is definitely on their side,” Law said. “And I think the backcourt advantage is on our side. But we’ll have to find a way to handle their size. They manhandled us in the post the first time we played them.”

As they’ve done all season, the Firebirds plan to rely on Wilson and senior forward Weston Wiebe on the offensive end. Both players have been consistently good throughout the season, providing FSHS with one of the most dynamic 1-2 punches in the Sunflower League. Both also played key roles in last year’s run, and Law hopes his veterans will draw on that experience to lead the team this time around.

Law said he felt good about the opportunity ahead of the third-seeded Firebirds.

“For our guys, (the rematch is) a good thing,” Law said. “We know that we’re playing a very quality opponent and that it by no means is going to be easy. We’ve had a great run, but these guys are not content with where they are.”