As of Monday, Jan. 26, the city’s four Class 6A varsity basketball teams have a combined record of 15-29. Ouch. Not exactly what we expected a year after watching the Lawrence High boys and girls play for state championships and two years removed from the Free State High boys and girls basketball teams simultaneous run to third-place in Emporia. So what gives? It’s simple really. We’ve been spoiled. All four teams have nice pieces and solid players but things like depth, chemistry, size and experience have made things tough on the four coaches. To their credit, all four have continued to plug away. Take LHS girls coach Kristin Mallory, for instance. Fresh off the 2008 state title, many expected Mallory’s team to have a chance to repeat the feat in 2009 but then senior forward Tania Jackson went down with a knee injury and the Lions’ entire season changed in a flash. Rather than sob and moan about losing her most tenacious player, Mallory shrugged off the disappointment and immediately began searching for ways to win without her. So far the LHS girls have found that difficult, as they sit just 4-6 heading into this week’s Capital City Classic. But the Lions have played a murderous schedule and have yet to compete at full strength. With guard Cassie Potter and forward Shelby Miller now back from injuries — and well rested — the LHS girls have a shot to get hot heading into sub-state, where anything can happen. Same goes for Bryan Duncan’s Free State girls, who still struggle in the backcourt but play great defense and have a frontcourt as tall and talented as any. The Firebirds (5-5) played one-loss Olathe South to the wire the other night and many believe the Falcons are among the favorites to contend for the Class 6A state title this season. Perhaps it was a sign of what this team is capable of. As for the boys teams, Lawrence High jumped out to a 4-2 pre-winter break start, which included a huge victory against Sunflower League powerhouse Shawnee Mission Northwest. But 2009 has not been so kind. The LHS boys are 1-5 this month, with the only victory coming in the consolation semifinals of the Topeka Invitational. Even that was not in hand until the final horn sounded, as senior Lance Kilburn bailed out the Lions with a 25-footer at the buzzer. That win temporarily put some smiles back on the Lions faces. But another rough game the very next day left this team searching for answers. Regardless of their recent struggles, I still think the LHS boys represent the city’s best shot for a trip to state in 2009. The bottom line for me: When you have Dorian Green, you have a chance.Lastly, we’ve got the Free State boys, who went 0-3 in McPherson this weekend and now have dropped 11 straight games after winning their season opener. Along the way, the Firebirds have had three or four close calls that could have resulted in victories, but inexperience and a lineup that lacks chemistry have hampered the team’s chances. Their season is a long way from over and the Free State boys are a better team today than when they opened the season. But this team is desperate for a win and needs to get one in a hurry to have any hope of putting things together in time for a run at sub-state. These things happen in the high school ranks. One year yours is the team to beat and the next you’re stuck at the bottom of the standings. It’s not a sign of poor coaching, lazy play or athletes who lack talent. Sometimes the pieces don’t all fit together the way you’d like. This might just be one of those years. But the beauty of the playoff system in the state of Kansas is that every team has a shot at the end. All it takes is for a hot streak at the right time. No one knows this better than Lawrence’s high school basketball teams.