Lawrence High senior Alexis Boyd (42) can only watch as Free State senior Hannah Walter (15) gets behind the Lawrence High defense for an easy two points during their game Friday evening at LHS.

Free State High senior guard Hannah Walter hasn’t led her girls basketball team in scoring in any game this season.

But ask her teammates and coaches, and there might not be another player more valuable to their team.

Walter, who has spent the past two years in the Firebirds’ varsity rotation, is the definition of the all-important glue player. She makes her teammates better with her help defense. The 5-foot-9 Walter can defend against guards or post players, leading the sixth-ranked Firebirds to a 13-6 record heading into the City Showdown against Lawrence High at 5:30 p.m. Friday at FSHS.

On the other side of the court, the offense runs through Walter. Against zone defenses, the Firebirds try to get the ball to Walter, a former point guard, so she can set up her teammates with passes.

“She’s a great decision-maker,” Free State coach Bryan Duncan said. “She’s strong. She’s a good passer. She can turn around and hit the shot if needed. She can drive it. She’s just smart.

“If anything, we tell her she’s too unselfish at times. She should probably look to score more.”

Walter, who is averaging 4.4 points per game, does plenty that doesn’t simply show up in the box score. Any time there is a loose ball, Walter dives over the court or runs into the stands, flinging her body like a rag doll. When the Firebirds go on a run and force a timeout by the opposing team, Walter is usually the first one to clap her hands and celebrate with her teammates.

“I just really try to bring energy, and I really just try to be the best teammate I can be,” Walter said. “Whatever that includes, whether it’s bringing so much energy that it pumps everybody else up or if it’s getting a rebound in an important moment. Maybe not necessarily scoring, but that’s what I’m going to do.”

Walter is one of the few players in the varsity rotation who has played at each level in the program: freshman/sophomore, junior varsity and varsity.

Each year, she’s continued to improve. As a sophomore, in limited varsity action, she was used to bring the ball up the court.

Midway through last season, Walter moved into the starting lineup and provided stability on the court. During the summer, she worked on driving the ball and her defense, filling a bigger role.

“We’ve been talking to her all year about Hannah just has to be Hannah,” Duncan said. “In our eyes, that means the toughest, hardest-working, most aggressive player in the league. That’s kind of how we bill her. I think that she fits that role and she embraces it.”

Now with two point guards — sophomore Cameryn Thomas and senior Caiti Schlesener — Walter can play more off of the ball. That allows her to run around on offense, setting screens and freeing herself for layups.

“I feel like I can see the court pretty well and see where my open teammates are,” Walter said. “So if I can make one more pass, instead of shooting it, then I’m definitely going to make that pass.”

With her final season winding down, Walter said it’s “definitely a very emotional time.” Heading into her last rivalry game against LHS, Walter is pumped for a chance to avenge the 49-48 loss in December.

“Last time didn’t go as planned so definitely excited to just come out and play as hard as we can,” Walter said, “and hopefully be the better team this time.”