Free State girls head coach Bryan Duncan instructs the Firebirds during a time out against Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 at Shawnee Mission North.

Overland Park ? A few easy and early baskets proved to be the perfect remedy for the Free State High girls basketball team’s losing streak on Tuesday night.

The Firebirds raced to an early lead and never trailed against Shawnee Mission North (5-14), rolling to a 53-39 victory to snap a three-game slide.

“The crazy thing about basketball is we’ve lost three in a row and have probably played our best basketball of the season,” Free State coach Bryan Duncan said.

Led by 18 points, six rebounds and five assists from Kennedy Kirkpatrick, the Firebirds (9-10) started 7-for-10 from the field behind good ball movement and crisp passes.

Chelsea Casady chipped in 10 points and Lynn Robinson added nine points and seven rebounds for FSHS, which took a 29-13 lead to halftime.

The Indians, in the third quarter’s opening minutes, went on a 10-1 run to trim the lead to 30-24.

But Scout Wiebe (six points, four rebounds) swiped a pass and coasted in for an easy layup, and Kirkpatrick and Chelsea Casady each drove to the basket for three-point plays to steady the Firebirds.

“I think the key was responding to the run,” Duncan said. “We knew they’d make (one) at some point and the key was getting it stopped with taking a timeout and coming back out and playing well.”

The Firebirds will play their season finale on Friday against Lawrence High.

“I think tonight was a pretty good indication that we still have our best basketball yet to come,” Duncan said.