Free State's Lynn Robinson (14) beats Lawrence High defenders down the court after a turnover Friday, Dec. 16, 2011 at FSHS.

It doesn’t seem that long ago to Free State High guard Lynn Robinson that she was coming into the program as a sophomore, trying to find her place on what would become a state-tournament team.

Time flies when you’re a three-year starter renowned for harassing opposing point guards and knocking down three-pointers.

Now a senior entering the final week of the regular season, Robinson can’t believe her stint is almost up with the FSHS girls basketball team.

“It’s definitely the easiest not to think about it being the end of the season, because that just stresses me out,” she said with a laugh.

When Robinson first arrived at Free State in 2009-10, she started at point guard for a team that had two NCAA Div. I players — Chantay Caron (Kansas State) and Ashli Hill (University of Missouri-Kansas City) — and went 15-8. Back then, coach Bryan Duncan said, Robinson was talented and did a good job, but she was immature as a lead guard.

Now, as a key cog on a 13-5 team, Robinson has contributed greatly with her leadership.

“It’s been really fun to watch her grow as a player, but even more fun to watch her grow as a person and leader,” Duncan said. “And that sounds kind of cheesy, but it’s very true.”

Now fully entrenched in the program, with a ton of minutes under her belt, Robinson knows what she and teammates Kennedy Kirkpatrick, Jackie Garcia, Chelsea and Abbey Casady, A’Liyah Rogers and Scout Wiebe need to do to be successful.

“Every season has been a totally different team,” Robinson said, “and obviously with this team we do really well running up and down the floor.”

While the 5-foot-8 senior averages 11 points and three assists a game, she understands the importance of her 4.5 rebounds and 2.6 steals, too.

“I know my offensive game definitely comes from my defensive game,” she said, “so it helps all of us a lot when there’s a lot of pressure on the ball and a lot of pressure on defense.”

Though Robinson isn’t tall, even for a guard, Duncan said she is deceivingly lanky and long and good with her arms defensively.

“She’s a very smart individual to begin with, but she really gets the game and understands how to guard people certain ways,” the coach said.

Kirkpatrick, a junior, said Robinson is a great teammate because she plays non-stop intense defense and picks up her teammates when they’re down.

“She brings that energy every game, every practice,” Kirkpatrick said.

Robinson’s endurance comes from running both cross country and track. She has committed to do both next year at Kansas University.

“When the other team has their hands on their knees, and I’m still going at ’em, that has to drive them crazy,” Robinson said with a sly grin, revealing her competitive nature.

She gets that ambition, Robinson said, from her father, Scott.

“I always feel like it’s my fault whenever we lose,” she said.

Of course, that’s not the case, and Duncan said the senior’s ultra-competitive streak might be her only fault. The coach has known the fiery guard since she was in middle school, and though he has witnessed her get extremely frustrated at times, he said she has learned to channel those outbreaks and convert them into something positive the vast majority of the time, making it hard for him to complain.

“It’s well worth it, because it’s her competitive juices flowing,” Duncan said, “and that’s who she is.”

Said Robinson: “Obviously nobody likes losing, but with my competitive edge, I just want our team to be the best.”

With just two regular-season dates left on the schedule — 5:30 p.m. tonight at Shawnee Mission East and Friday at Lawrence High for the City Showdown — Duncan has no doubt Robinson will be great in the final stretch as the Firebirds, winners of eight of their last 10 games, march toward the postseason.

“She knows what’s left,” the coach said, “and I know this means the world to her.”