Free State High senior Cameron Clark puts up a layup against Derby in the sub-state title game Friday at Derby.

Derby ? With less than seven minutes remaining in Friday’s sub-state title game against Derby, Free State junior point guard Garrett Luinstra dribbled past a full-court press and saw senior Cameron Clark running on the other side of the lane.

Luinstra lobbed the ball in the air, to the surprise to Clark, and Clark finished with a powerful two-handed slam over a defender.

It was the exclamation point in a 68-59 victory at Derby, leading the Firebirds to their first Class 6A state tournament appearance since 2013.

Clark’s highlight dunk was in the middle of a stretch where he scored six straight points, helping Free State to a 14-point advantage. The 6-foot-7 forward couldn’t be stopped in the low post, finishing with a team-high 26 points and 19 rebounds on 12-of-18 shooting.

All season, Clark’s teammates have insisted that he’s one of the best players in the state when he’s focused. Afterward, second-year coach Sam Stroh remembered a conversation during Friday morning’s walkthrough.

“Before we left school and watched film,” Stroh said, “I said, ‘Can you give me four quarters tonight?’ He said, ‘I got you.'”

When the final seconds ticked off of the clock, Clark hugged fellow senior Jay Dineen in front of his team’s bench. Senior Shannon Cordes did a few chest bumps and let out a yell. Others pushed teammates around in celebration.

“All the work we put in the summer and just everything that we worked on has finally paid off,” Luinstra said.

Free State High junior Garrett Luinstra looks to make a play while driving into the paint against Derby in the sub-state title game Friday at Derby.

After trailing by two points at halftime, the Firebirds (16-6) pulled ahead with an 11-0 run midway through the third quarter. Junior guard Simon McCaffrey started the spurt with a 3-pointer in front of his team’s bench and Dineen put the visitors ahead with a steal and layup.

Luinstra (19 points, nine rebounds, four assists) followed with six straight points, unleashing a loud yell when he scored on a layup-and-the-foul bucket.

“Without him, we’re not going to Wichita, bottom line,” Stroh said of Luinstra.

Free State opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run and led by at least seven points over Derby (17-5) for the remainder of the night.

For a team known to make games interesting in the final minutes, the Firebirds kept the door shut when they saw a trip to Wichita in their sights. They made all six free throws in the last 90 seconds, eliminating drama when Derby senior Nyjee Wright (28 points) made a pair of 3-pointers.

“I’m proud of the way we fought,” Stroh said. “Not just tonight but the whole season. We’ve had some ups and downs.”

After an overtime, two-point loss in the sub-state finals last season, the Firebirds completed a goal that they established last spring.

More than 30 minutes after the final buzzer, players stood on the court with wide smiles and took pictures with their sub-state title plaque.

“Last year, we still think about that every day,” said Cordes, who scored eight points. “I think that’s why we play with our chip on our shoulder so we could get back there and we finally did. It’s the best feeling that I’ve ever had.”

The Firebirds will play Wednesday in the 6A state tournament at Wichita State’s Koch Arena.

FREE STATE (68)

Garrett Luinstra 7-12 4-5 19, Simon McCaffrey 1-3 2-2 5, Jay Dineen 1-4 2-2 4, Shannon Cordes 2-2 4-4 8, Cameron Clark 12-18 2-4 26, Jacob Pavlyak 2-4 0-0 4, Jalan Robinson 0-1 2-2 2, Sloan Thomsen 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-44 16-19 68.

DERBY (59)

Nyjee Wright 9-23 8-11 28, Grant Adler 3-8 0-1 8, Josh Clavin 1-4 0-0 2, Trevor Gordon 7-14 0-1 17, Brett Bell 1-2 0-0 2, Jack Taylor 0-1 0-0 0, Adrian Brown 0-2 0-0 0, Daniel Dawdy 0-3 0-0 0, Ryan Camacho 0-1 0-0 0, Team 0-0 0-0 2. Totals 21-58 8-13 59.

Free State 13 11 19 25 — 68

Derby 8 18 10 23 — 59

Three-point goals: Free State 2-6 (Luinstra, McCaffrey); Derby 7-26 (Gordon 3, Wright 2, Adler 2). Fouled out: None. Turnovers: Free State 17, Derby 6.