Topeka ? Topeka High girls basketball coach Hannah Alexander had one clear message to her team entering its matchup against Free State High on Friday at THS: Don’t let FSHS junior guard Madison Piper put up uncontested shots.

The Trojans were unable to answer their coach’s call, as Piper scored 22 points to push Free State past Topeka High, 58-52, in the season opener for both teams.

“Any time she was able to get open, and any time they left her, she hit the shot,” FSHS coach Bryan Duncan said of Piper. “That’s what great players do. She knows she’s not going to get a ton of good looks all season, so when she does, she’s got to take them and hit them.”

Piper torched the Trojans for 23 points in Free State’s season opener last year at FSHS, and she got off to a hot start again Friday night. The 5-foot-10 junior scored eight unanswered points — including two three-pointers — to give the Firebirds a 9-3 advantage at the 4:39 mark of the first quarter, and FSHS never relinquished the lead.

Although Piper scored 18 of her 22 points from behind the arc, she also frequently battled down low. Piper pulled down eight rebounds to pace the Firebirds and is looking forward to the challenge of playing more in the post.

“It will teach me to be tougher and be able to make more moves,” Piper said. “It’s going to be good for me, I guess, in a way.”

While Piper led all scorers, Topeka High had a potent offensive threat as well in senior guard Adrianna Henderson. The Trojans’ top returning scorer netted 18 points despite being benched in the first quarter for disciplinary reasons and hit a three to pull THS within 47-43 with 3:47 remaining.

“She was very difficult to guard. She could pull up with the shot, and she was very good at driving,” FSHS senior Caiti Schlesener said of guarding Henderson while Cameryn Thomas was in foul trouble.

Duncan was pleased with his team’s composure down the stretch — especially Schlesener, who hit back-to-back three-pointers following Henderson’s triple to keep Topeka High at arm’s length.

“As I was shooting it, I was just, like, ‘Please go in,'” Schlesener said of hoisting the first of her two threes. “It’s been so long. I have been struggling with a hand injury, so I was, like, ‘Come on. I need this one. I need this boost of confidence.'”

Schlesener, senior Peyton Brown and junior Jaycie Bishop each had nine points apiece in a balanced offensive attack.

The Firebirds will travel to Central Academy at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Free State (58)

Madison Piper 8-19 0-1 22, Caiti Schlesener 3-13 1-2 9, Jaycie Bishop 3-7 2-2 9, Peyton Brown 4-9 1-2 9, Cameryn Thomas 2-6 0-2 4, Jaelyn Two Hearts 1-4 1-2 3, Hannah Walter 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 22-60 5-11 58.

Topeka (52)

Adrianna Henderson 5-11 7-9 18, Erica Birch 7-9 4-5 18, Corieann Emanuel 2-6 0-0 6, Ke’Shawn Wright 1-4 0-0 3, Ida Pieschl 1-5 0-0 3, Rylee Burris 1-6 0-0 2, Jhailyn Johnson 0-2 0-0 0, Precious Posey 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 17-45 11-14 52.

FSHS 17 12 13 16 — 58

Topeka 7 13 13 19 — 52

Three-point goals: Free State 9-20 (Piper 6, Sclesener 2, Bishop). Topeka 5-20 (Emanuel 2, Pieschl, Wright, Henderson). Turnovers: Free State 12, Topeka 11. Fouled out: Cameryn Thomas.