Wichita ? When Free State High boys basketball players walk onto the floor at Wichita State’s Koch Arena tonight, they’ll see some familiar faces lining up on the other side.

The fourth-seeded Firebirds (17-6) played Blue Valley Northwest a couple of times throughout the summer, but none of those games meant nearly as much as tonight’s Class 6A state semifinal matchup, which is scheduled for 8:15 p.m.

Blue Valley Northwest actually knocked Free State out of the state tournament in 2013 — the Firebirds’ last appearance at state.

“We played Blue Valley Northwest this summer and the first game they beat us by 30 and they stole the ball from us like 25 times and had about 11 dunks,” Free State coach Sam Stroh said. “We played them at KU team camp championship game and, I think, we lost by five or six. I told them, just prepare the next 48 hours and let’s go out and give it our best.”

The top-seeded Huskies (20-3) took fourth place at the 6A state tournament last season and returned nearly their entire lineup.

Northwest enters the semifinals on a nine-game winning streak since an early February loss to Class 4A-I powerhouse Bishop Miege.

“Our coach said they smacked us at the beginning of the summer and it was like the best thing that happened to us,” said FSHS junior Garrett Luinstra, who scored a game-high 16 points in a quarterfinal win over Wichita South on Wednesday. “We’ve got better ever since, so I think we’re ready for them.”

LHS boys prepare for Blue Valley North

After an overtime, seven-point win in the first round of the state tournament against Manhattan, Lawrence High’s boys basketball returns to the Final Four for the third straight season.

The seventh-seeded Lions (16-7) will meet No. 6-seed Blue Valley North (17-6) at 4:45 p.m. today. The Mustangs own a seven-game winning streak.

“It’s a good feeling because no one really thought we’d make it here because we lost a lot of experience last year,” LHS sophomore Brett Chapple said. “It’s just awesome to advance.”

LHS forwards Chapple and senior Kobe Buffalomeat combined for 32 points on 13-for-15 shooting with 15 rebounds against Manhattan.

“We want to continue to be an inside-out team,” Lawrence coach Mike Lewis said. “That’s who we need to be. We need to have that confidence and that go-to feeling to do that.”

Seabury plays perennial power St. John

Playing in the Class 2A state semifinals for the first time in school history, Bishop Seabury’s boys basketball team will receive one of its toughest tests when it plays St. John at 4:45 p.m. today at Kansas State’s Bramlage Coliseum.

Second-seeded St. John (22-1) won three state titles with Kansas State forward Dean Wade from 2013-15.

“Really looking forward to it because they are a great team,” Seabury coach Ashley Battles said. “A good friend of mine coaches their team, who I’ve known since 1995. If you want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best and they are the best.”

St. John is led by senior Cole Kinnamon, junior Chase Fisher and senior Jorge Calleros, who all average more than 10 points per game.