FSHS girls third in Classic

Free State junior Hannah Walter (15) loses the ball as she is fouled by Wichita Heights freshman Dymond McElrath (3) while splitting a double team by McElrath and junior Analyss Benally (5) during their game in the 15th annual Firebird Winter Classic at FSHS.

After a two-point loss on Friday night, Free State High’s girls basketball players refused to fall short again.

The Firebirds committed 17 more turnovers than Wichita Heights on Saturday afternoon and shot just 39 percent from the field. But they still found a way to win, holding off the Falcons for a 48-44 victory to take third place in the Firebird Winter Classic at FSHS.

Free State led by eight points with under three minutes left after sophomore guard Jaycie Bishop drained two free throws. But the Falcons responded with an 8-1 run, pulling to 45-44 with 25.9 seconds remaining, following two made free throws from sophomore Jaelynn McLaurian.

FSHS senior forward Sarah Coversup responded by going 1-for-2 at the free-throw line. On defense with a two-point lead, the Firebirds forced a fadeaway along the baseline, and junior Hannah Walter grabbed the rebound. Walter made one of her two free throws before the Falcons turned the ball over trying to set up a three-point look with less than four seconds left.

“That (loss on Friday) stung real bad for all of us,” FSHS coach Bryan Duncan said. “We were very, very upset, as we should be. I think the important part is, we responded real well today. Regardless of the outcome today, I think our kids played with a lot of heart and energy. I think it showed.”

The Firebirds had an 11-point lead midway through the third quarter after a 7-0 run to open the second half. Coversup made a layup through contact, and sophomore wing Madison Piper scored with a mid-range jumper and a three-pointer.

Then, the Falcons (7-6) responded with a 15-4 stretch over the next six minutes to tie the game, 30-30.

That’s when Coversup took over the Firebirds’ offense. After Walter scored on a putback to give Free State a 32-30 advantage, Coversup scored eight of the team’s next 10 points, helping bring the ball up the court as a point guard before going inside and finding space for layups.

“Not to brag, but nobody has my power,” said the 6-foot-1 Coversup, who scored a game-high 18 points. “So I try to do what I can, then when I get the ball, I just go up.”

Facing another full-court defense without freshman point guard Cameryn Thomas, the Firebirds (10-2, ranked No. 5 in Class 6A) committed 27 turnovers, including nine in the fourth quarter.

“You wouldn’t think it would make a big difference, but it really does,” Walter said of playing without Thomas. “She really helps us a lot and we definitely miss her. But we just have to get it done for her.”

With problems getting the ball into offensive sets, the Firebirds played airtight defense, holding the Falcons to 27 percent shooting (13-for-48) with their 2-3 zone.

Free State also went hard after rebounds, which was a problem in Friday’s loss. Piper, who played the final nine minutes with four fouls, completed a double-double with 10 rebounds to go along with 12 points. Senior forward Adriana Jadlow grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

“We had to face a lot adversity after yesterday, and we were all really upset about it,” said Walter, who scored a season-high eight points. “So I think we just took that and used it as fire today.”

Free State will return to the court at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Kansas City Schlagle.

FREE STATE (48)

Morgan Gantz 0-1 0-0 0, Jaycie Bishop 2-4 2-2 7, Adriana Jadlow 1-7 0-2 2, Madison Piper 3-10 4-6 12, Sarah Coversup 5-8 8-10 18, Hannah Shoemaker 0-0 1-2 1, Hannah Walter 1-1 6-10 8. Totals 12-31 21-32 48.

WICHITA HEIGHTS (44)

Tania Lowe 0-3 0-0 0, Analyss Benally 1-10 2-2 4, Athena Alvarado 4-7 2-5 10, Daliyah Watson 1-5 0-0 3, Jaelynn McLaurian 1-8 4-4 6, Samauria Powell 2-5 0-0 5, Dymond McElrath 0-0 2-2 2, Tachina Taylor 0-2 0-0 0, Trinity Conley 1-2 6-7 8, Sydney Fletcher 3-6 0-2 6, Camille Patrick 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-48 16-22 44.

Heights 7 8 9 20 — 44

Free State 14 5 9 20 — 48

Three-point field goals: Free State 3-13 (Piper 2, Bishop); Wichita Heights 2-15 (Watson, Powell). Fouled out: Gantz, Watson, Alvarado, McLaurian. Turnovers: Free State 27, Wichita Heights 10.