FSHS boys cruise past Vikings to clinch Sunflower League title

OVERLAND PARK — The Shawnee Mission West visiting locker room served as an impromptu dance floor for the Free State boys basketball team Tuesday.

Just moments after the Firebirds cruised past the Vikings, 58-37, they received rather welcoming news. FSHS assistant coach Jacob Larsen told the team that Lawrence High had just lost in overtime nearby to Shawnee Mission East, which meant Free State had officially clinched its first Sunflower League title since 2005.

The news sparked a jubilant response from the entire team. Many of the players began dancing and chanting in celebration. Assistant coach D.C. Paige even broke out in dance in the middle of the players, which received the warmest of applauses.

But Paige wasn’t exactly the consensus best dancer.

“I was the best dancer, for sure,” senior Shannon Cordes said jokingly. “It’s just a relief knowing all our hard work this season has paid off. We knew what the stakes were and we just had to refocus. This was a big one.”

The Firebirds (14-5, 9-1 in league) response in Tuesday’s convincing road victory was especially impressive given the circumstances. They were coming off their first league loss of the season, and had just a one-game advantage over LHS with the City Showdown looming at the end of the week.

But instead, they left little doubt against SM West (9-10, 5-5), as they never trailed en route to their league-clinching night. Cordes (6-of-11) and senior Cameron Clark (8-of-14) each paced the team with 16 points apiece.

“It feels amazing, especially coming off a loss. Just winning league, this is amazing,” Clark said. “Coach told me before the game, this is an important game for us. Olathe East, they had us. But it’s a new day.”

Clark opened the night with six of the team’s first eight points, while Cordes added five in the opening period to help the team jump out to a 14-6 advantage. In fact, the team’s only bucket that wasn’t notched by the pair in the first quarter was a pull-up 3-pointer by junior Garrett Luinstra.

After a scoreless second quarter, which allowed the Vikings to keep within arm’s reach, Clark opened the second half much like he did the first. He knocked down four buckets, including an emphatic dunk, on the team’s first six possessions to start the third quarter.

“I don’t know if there is a team that can beat us if he plays like that,” senior Jay Dineen said. “To get a (league title) in football and now basketball, it shows our class and even the younger kids have helped a ton. We are one good class to come through Free State.”

Even when Clark wasn’t on the floor, the Firebirds had big body force clogging up the lane. Junior Jalan Robinson put up 11 shots, finishing with 10 points to join Cordes and Clark in double figures. And Free State played with comfortable lead for much of the second half.

The dancing was short-lived, however, as the team will have a couple days to prepare for the regular-season finale against Lawrence. Even though the league title is wrapped up, the team will not have to look hard to find motivation.

“Now that it’s not for the league, it’s for our town. We haven’t beat them the last seven times, it’s more for pride now,” Dineen said.

Tipoff for the City Showdown is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Lawrence High.

FREE STATE (58)

Garrett Luinstra 2-4 0-1 5, Simon McCaffrey 1-3 0-0 3, Jay Dineen 2-6 0-4 4, Shannon Cordes 6-11 3-4 16, Cameron Clark 8-14 0-0 16, Jalan Robinson 2-11 6-8 10, Sloan Thomsen 1-3 0-0 2, Jacob Pavlyak 0-2 0-0 0, Jared Hicks 0-1 0-0 0, Jake Baker 1-1 0-0 2, Avant Edwards 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-57 9-17 58.

SM WEST (37)

Mike Hood 2-15 2-2 7, Elijah Graham 2-4 0-0 4, Zach Witters 5-12 2-2 12, Jason Potter 0-5 0-0 0, Isreal Watson 1-7 0-0 3, Cameron Southern 4-10 1-2 9, Jack McMahon 0-1 2-2 2, Justin Hylton 0-1 0-1 0, Ring Ring 0-1 0-0 0, Eric Rhymes 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 14-57 7-9 37.

Free State 14 12 17 13 — 58

SM West 6 7 11 13 — 37

Three-point goals: Free State 3-9 (Cordes, McCaffrey, Luinstra); SM West 2-20 (Hood, Watson). Fouled out: None. Turnovers: SMW 11, FSHS 10.