Free State junior Conner Monarez has been one of the Firebirds' most consistent outside shooting threats this season.

To three or not to three? That is the question Free State High boys basketball coach Chuck Law and his Firebirds are contemplating.

Although they drained a season-high six three-pointers in the Dec. 20 City Showdown against Lawrence High, proving that they are not just a fast-break and inside-scoring team, the Firebirds seem to be leaning toward answering that question with: “Thanks, but no thanks.”

FSHS followed up those six trifectas at LHS by going 1-for-7 from downtown in their home opener against Topeka, 0-for-2 against Olathe East and 1-for-3 at Shawnee Mission East.

In its first five games of the season, FSHS (7-2 overall, 3-0 Sunflower League) hit only four threes, and on a few occasions Law wondered aloud whether the Firebirds were a good team when they were taking shots from beyond the arc.

When LHS opened up in a 2-3 zone against FSHS, it was evident that the Firebirds would have to prove they could score from long range, at least on that night.

“Truth be told, if teams are going to zone it and pack it in, which Lawrence High did, you’ve got to step out and make that shot,” Law said of the three-pointer.

Though FSHS was hit-and-miss from long distance in the early going at LHS, the Firebirds found their range.

“We don’t usually shoot from three-point (distance), but we just came into the game and knocked down some big shots,” said senior guard Kris Wilson, who hit one in the first quarter.

Most of those big shots, however, came from junior guard Conner Monarez, who hit four three-pointers.

“Once he hit the first one, I think he got in a little rhythm, and he kept shooting them, and they kept going in,” Wilson said of his backcourt-mate. “He did a good job from behind the arc.”

Monarez actually missed his first two attempts from downtown, but he got some encouraging words from senior forward Weston Wiebe, who hit a three on the possession prior to Monarez’s first long-range bucket.

“Weston, being a good senior leader, he told me to keep shooting, and I saw an open spot and just took off from there,” Monarez said. “Everything just went our way from then on.”

FSHS held on for a 71-64 victory at LHS, and Law said his team might have to prove its three-point performance in that game wasn’t an anomaly.

“If we can get someone on a somewhat consistent basis to knock down that three, then that makes us difficult to zone because Weston and Craig (Rosenstengle) and Auston (Jacobsen) and Chase (Hoag) can get some things done inside,” Law said, adding that Monarez might be that consistent shooter. “Conner has emerged, to this particular point, as our primary three-point shooter. But I still don’t want to see our team live and die by that shot.”

Law said he continues to preach transition and points in the paint to his players because he doesn’t want them to fall in love with the three. What’s more, only certain Firebirds can fire away from downtown in particular scenarios.

“There are three guys right now that have the green light in certain circumstances,” Law said, identifying the eligible trio of Monarez, Wilson and Wiebe, before re-defining his previous statement. “It’s more of a yellow light.”

Yes, the Firebirds should proceed with caution before firing from deep.

“We can never lose sight of the fact that we’re still primarily a team that pounds the ball inside and shoots it from 17 feet and in,” Law said, before discussing the importance of transition offense. “A great way for us to attack a zone is to get it up the floor and not allow it to get set.”

Law’s players understand that, and Wilson said he doesn’t think FSHS will start relying on threes any time soon.

“I think that we can get it out and run, more than just coming down and setting up the half-court offense and taking three-pointers,” Wilson said. “I think we can push the tempo and get out and go.”

But when FSHS has to deal with half-court zones, the three won’t be the only bullet in its chamber. The Firebirds have a few offensive sets to run, including one that was perfectly executed against LHS – a back-screen and lob pass to Wiebe on the weak side for an alley-oop.

“I think if we go up against a zone, we can get that all day,” Wilson said.

When Wiebe isn’t converting on that play, he excels at scoring on the baseline and in the paint, which can lead to an open three for Monarez.

“He gets a lot of attention because he’s the best player on the team,” Monarez said of Wiebe. “He passes out to me and I have a good look, I’m going to take it.”