At home: Firebirds unbeaten at home this season

Free State forward Chrision Wilburn takes the ball in for a layup against Shawnee Mission West on Tuesday night at FSHS.

There’s no place like home and Free State High’s boys basketball players have used it to their advantage this season.

The Firebirds are undefeated on their home court heading into the City Showdown at 7 tonight at FSHS, looking to end a five-game losing streak against Lawrence High.

After winning their first eight home games, the Firebirds (14-5, ranked No. 8 in Class 6A) have plenty of pride in their home-court success.

“We talk about it a lot and I think it would be big for us if we finished the season undefeated at home,” FSHS senior point guard Kristian Rawls said. “It just makes (today) even bigger.”

The Firebirds credit their home win streak to their fans and daily practices on the court. First-year Free State coach Sam Stroh came up with the idea of giving the gym a nickname, referring to it as “The Cage,” a nod to the LHS home gym’s nickname, “The Jungle.”

But of course, it’ll take more than just a home-court advantage to win a rivalry game. After losing the first matchup in December, 79-65, the Firebirds are focused on staying strong for all four quarters.

In a few losses, including the first City Showdown, the Firebirds have been troubled by bad stretches in the second half.

“I just want to see our guys fight for 32 minutes,” Stroh said. “We didn’t do that the first time we played them and they took it to us in the fourth quarter. I told them, ‘Don’t worry about winning or losing. Just make it a 32-minute fight and let’s get after them.'”

The top-ranked Lions (17-2) secured the top seed in their sub-state bracket with their win over Shawnee Mission East on Tuesday. Even if the outcome doesn’t have a big effect on the postseason scenarios, it still means everything to play their crosstown rivals.

Free State will likely be the No. 3 or No. 4 seed in its sub-state bracket, earning a first-round home game.

“You still can’t lose this game,” LHS senior guard Anthony Harvey said. “This is the game that’s still been circled on the calendar. This is the game you can’t drop. You don’t sleep at night if you lose this one.”

The Lions have won 14 of their 15 games since the first City Showdown. They’ve said their loss against SM North on Feb. 16 was a “wake-up call,” and responded with two straight victories.

“That was like a kick to the mouth,” Harvey said of the loss. “We took that and that’s motivation. Every practice we sat down as a varsity team and we said we have to practice harder, we have to hold each other more accountable in practice and we just don’t want this ride to end.”

One of the main focuses for the Lions is racing out to a quick start. In their past three games against Free State, they’ve trailed after the first quarter.

“A lot of that game is surviving the first four minutes emotionally, keeping your energy and keeping your composure,” LHS coach Mike Lewis said. “Then being able to settle in as a team and play good basketball.”

For the Firebirds, they know they are a different team than when they played in the first City Showdown and they are hopeful for a different result.

“At the beginning of the year, neither of our teams were to our full potential,” FSHS senior Hunter Gudde said. “The game at the end of the season is really what defines us as a team. I think this game is really going to see who is the better team. I think we’re prepared and ready to go.”

Said Rawls: “I’m really excited. Last time was my first time and I think I was a little nervous. This time I’m really just ready to play.”