Free State forward Caiti Schlesener (11) maneuvers around Derby defenders Friday night at FSHS.

Every shooter goes through slumps throughout the basketball season. It’s rare to see it happen to an entire team all at once.

Free State High’s girls basketball players missed 11 straight shots to end the first half Friday, going scoreless in the second quarter during their 57-41 loss to Derby in the semifinals of the Firebird Winter Classic at FSHS.

Facing Derby’s 2-3 zone with 6-foot-5 freshman Kennedy Brown in the middle, the Firebirds had open looks on the perimeter. Their shots just wouldn’t fall. Junior Madison Piper, the Sunflower League’s leading scorer, saw seven straight three-point attempts rattle around the rim.

Despite Free State’s shooting woes, the Panthers (12-0, ranked No. 3 in Class 6A) only led by four points in the second quarter before scoring eight points in the final two minutes for a 23-11 halftime advantage. Senior guard Haley Mills, who scored a team-high 17 points, drilled two threes, and freshman guard Tor’e Alford drove to the rim for a layup.

“It’s really frustrating because we got a lot of open looks but we just couldn’t hit them,” Piper said. “They were good shots. I don’t think we took very many bad shots. But I think we let it get into our heads.”

In the first two minutes of the second half, the sixth-ranked Firebirds (8-3) missed two shots and turned the ball over three times. They finally ended an 11-minute scoreless streak when junior guard Jaycie Bishop drove into the paint and dished a pass to senior guard Hannah Walter, who converted on a layup.

With the lid off of the rim, the Firebirds tried to rally. Piper connected on three triples, senior forward Peyton Brown made a layup while being fouled, and Walter scored six points in the period.

Free State trailed, 35-28, when Piper swished a three-pointer with five seconds left in the third quarter. But Alford responded by drilling a shot just inside of half-court. Free State coach Bryan Duncan, who thought Alford traveled and shot the ball after the buzzer, was called for a technical foul for walking out to mid-court and arguing.

Instead of entering the fourth quarter down seven and starting with the ball, the Firebirds were down 12 and without momentum.

“I shouldn’t get a technical in that situation but that was a huge momentum swing,” Duncan said. “He called what he saw but obviously I wouldn’t get that animated if I didn’t feel pretty strongly about (it).”

The Firebirds, who were without sophomore guard Jaelyn Two Hearts, attempted 31 three-pointers versus 16 shots inside of the arc against Derby’s zone. Driving lanes were closed, and the Panthers were willing to give up open looks from deep.

“It’s really difficult when you have that 6-5 girl standing right in the middle,” said Piper, who scored a game-high 25 points.

The Firebirds will play Washburn Rural (8-3, No. 5 in 6A) in the third-place game at 12:15 p.m. today.

DERBY (57)

Kenzie Young 2-3 0-0 6, Katie Hartman 1-4 0-0 2, Tor’e Alford 6-10 2-5 16, Holly Mills 1-3 0-0 2, Kennedy Brown 7-10 0-1 14, Haley Mills 5-8 2-2 17, Avrey Noel 0-1 0-0 0, Hannah Steinert 0-0 0-0 0, Lexi Winkle 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-39 4-8 57.

FREE STATE (41)

Cameryn Thomas 1-2 0-0 2, Caiti Schlesener 2-11 0-0 6, Madison Piper 8-20 2-2 25, Hannah Walter 3-3 0-0 6, Peyton Brown 1-6 0-1 2, Jaycie Bishop 0-5 0-0 0, Erin Cushing 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-47 2-3 41.

Derby 11 12 15 19 — 57

Free State 11 0 17 13 — 41

Three-point goals: Derby 9-16 (Ha. Mills 5, Young 2, Alford 2); Free State 9-31 (Piper 7, Schlesener 2). Turnovers: Derby 12, Free State 7.