Free State forward Haley Hippe pulls up for a shot against Leavenworth guard Cierra Robinson during the first half, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 at Free State High School.

When it looked like a late-game comeback could be in store for the Free State girls basketball team Friday against Leavenworth, the shots just wouldn’t fall.

Similar to Thursday night’s loss to Wichita South, poor shooting haunted the Firebirds in their 47-40 loss to the Pioneers in the consolation semifinals of the Firebird Winter Classic at FSHS.

In the game against Leavenworth, Free State improved upon its 24-point effort against South, but the Firebirds struggled down the stretch on the offensive end.

Free State committed crucial turnovers and missed several shots in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter. The most notable turnover came with the Firebirds down 46-40 with under two minutes to play when an errant corner pass that was intended for Haley Hippe sailed out of bounds.

In the final minute, Free State was forced to foul Leavenworth to preserve time on the clock, but the Pioneers couldn’t capitalize at the free-throw line.

Still, Free State wasn’t able to make enough shots to complete a comeback. The team shot 15 of 43 from the floor and 2 of 12 from 3-point range. Hippe led Free State with 13 points.

“I thought we competed pretty well but it all goes back to not being able to make shots that we really should be able to make,” said Free State coach Ted Juneau.

Free State trailed by seven heading into the fourth quarter and came within four points of Leavenworth before ultimately suffering its second straight defeat.

“Even with two, three minutes left to go in the game, we did everything we needed to do to get back in it,” Juneau said. “We made the fouls, they missed the free throws but then we can’t make the shots or even get the ball down there to get a shot.”

Free State’s best offensive performance came in the first quarter when it scored 14 points, but Leavenworth posted double-digit efforts in the first (18) and second (12) to take a 30-23 lead into halftime.

Defensively, Free State struggled to slow down Cierra Robinson and McKenzie Brown. Robinson served as an outside threat for Leavenworth and finished with 11 points, including two 3-pointers. The 6-foot Brown created mismatches inside the paint and finished with a game-high 15 points.

“We knew that they were going to have two players that were going to be pretty tough on us,” Juneau said. “They’re both good players. McKenzie’s a very good player and she’s tough for people to guard because of all the things she can do.”

The loss moved Free State to 1-10 on the season.

“I’m frustrated,” Juneau said. “But I know the girls are even more frustrated than I am.”

The Firebirds will close out the Firebird Winter Classic against Olathe West at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Free State (40)

Sam Lawrence 2-10 2-2 7, Evie Harrell 0-1 0-0 0, Caely Kesten 4-9 2-2 11, Shannon Clarke 3-7 3-4 9, Haley Hippe 6-11 1-2 13, Mayela Edwards 0-2 0-0 0, Erin Cushing 0-2 0-2 0, Joy Nunoo 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 15-43 8-12 40

Leavenworth (47)

Jailynn Brooks 1-3 2-3 4, Alisha Jones 2-5 2-3 6, Alexis Cole 1-5 0-4 2, Alyche Brown 4-8 0-1 9, Cierra Robinson 4-12 1-2 11, Saniyah Hammonds 0-1 0-0 0, Paige Birch 0-0 0-0 0, McKenzie Brown 7-11 1-2 15.

Free State 14 9 8 9 — 40

Leavenworth 18 12 8 9 — 47

3-point field goals: Free State 2-12 (Lawrence, Caely Kesten); Leavenworth 3-11 (Robinson 2, Alyche Brown). Fouled out: Lawrence. Turnovers: Free State 13, Leavenworth 8.