Round 2 of the City Showdown lived up to the hype Friday night with another thriller in the Lawrence High versus Free State series.

After LHS junior guard Shane Willoughby secured the dramatic 38-36 win for the home team, three of the last four meetings between the Lions and Firebirds have been decided by two points or less — and the other went to overtime.

Lawrence had to play without leading scorer KJ Pritchard, but the rest of the Lions stepped up and made enough plays to get the victory — even though LHS didn't really have an answer for Free State senior guard Brett Frantz.

Here's a look at the City Showdown version of "Prep Appraisals."

Lawrence boys

1. Logan Henrichs, sr. — Sank two clutch free throws to give Lawrence a two-point lead with 1:12 to play. Scored six points and grabbed seven boards, but also drew two charges in the second half and went diving into the bleachers trying for a steal.

2. Shane Willoughby, jr. — Hadn't scored since the second quarter, but still had the mettle to make the game-winning layup through two Free State defenders. Finished with eight points, a busted lip and a night he can tell his grandkids about.

3. Jake Mosiman, jr. — The sweet-shooting guard keyed a third-quarter turn-around for LHS, scoring 12 of the team's 16 points with four three-point bombs.

4. Anthony Buffalomeat, sr. — Not a huge scoring night for "Buff," who had six, but he also pulled down six big rebounds and contributed defensively with a pair of steals.

5. Bryce Montes de Oca, so. — Only three points and four boards on an off night for the big man.

6. Troy Willoughby, sr. — No points, but always a defensive cog for LHS as the older of the scrappy Willoughby brothers.

7. Austin Abbott, jr. — The break-out player of the game. Previously, Abbott had only played in mop-up duty for the Lions. But with Pritchard's injury, a spot in the rotation opened up. Abbott responded immediately upon entering the game in the second quarter. He went up for an offensive rebound, brought it down, went back up for a basket and drew the foul for a three-point play.

8. Tyrone Jenkins, jr. — Never gets a lot of playing time, but always gives LHS some bulk off the bench.

* KJ Pritchard, sr. — It would've been easy for Pritchard to feel bad for himself after injuring his right ankle a few hours before tip Friday night. On his own Senior Night, the Lions' leading scorer didn't do any sulking on the sideline while soaking his swollen ankle in a Gatorade bucket. Instead, he was hopping around during timeouts and staying in his teammates' ears. LHS coach Mike Lewis praised Pritchard for how he handled it: "I'm really proud of the way he stuck his chest out. He was coaching and being enthusiastic with the guys and was really mature for the situation."

Free State boys

1. Brett Frantz, sr. — As LHS coach Lewis put it, this was a guy that clearly wanted the ball in his hands and wanted to win the game for his team. Frantz scored nearly half of his team's points, with 17, and had all three of Free State's fourth-quarter field goals. Two of them tied the game in the final two minutes.

2. Gabe Patterson, sr. — Got the best of the big-man battle with Montes de Oca. While Patterson only scored six points, he was huge on the glass with nine rebounds, had a monster blocked shot that actually ignited a fast break and limited Montes de Oca to three points.

3. Cameron Dabney, sr. — Scored a couple buckets inside, but his usually reliable mid-range jumper wasn't falling. Scored four points and had four rebounds.

4. Shawn Knighton, sr. — Made some nice drive-and-dish plays for the Firebirds and scored four points in transition.

5. Kyle McFarland, jr. — Really helped out in the second quarter, nabbing three rebounds and scoring on a drive.

6. Cole Moreano, so. — Got one of his three-pointers to drop as FSHS made a push in the second quarter and took a halftime lead.

7. Blake Winslow, so. — A couple boards off the bench for the athletic defender.

8. Tyler Self, sr. — Had a couple of good looks on three-point tries, but neither would fall.

9. Reshawn Caro, so. — Some meaningful minutes for the young guy that will prove valuable down the road.

10. Logan Bannister, jr. — Not much action for the back-up post player on this night.

Free State girls break records in rout

The Free State girls couldn't be stopped in the first quarter, setting up a record-breaking night and a 79-45 romp.

The Firebirds' top seven looked as good as they have all year in the regular-season finale, which is a great sign with sub-state coming up in just a few days.

Here are the "Prep Appraisals" from the first game of the rivalry doubleheader.

Free State girls

1. Kennedy Kirkpatrick, jr. — One of the best players around showed all that she can do in the City Showdown. The junior guard was a force, hitting eight of her 10 shots (2-for-4 from long range) and three of her four free throws. Finished with 21 points and four rebounds despite not doing anything in the fourth quarter, with the game well in hand.

2. Lynn Robinson, sr. — The most efficient night of any player — boys or girls — on rivalry night. Robinson missed one shot in the second quarter. That was it for her failed attempts. The savvy senior guard, who defends as well as she scores (if not better), was 5-for-6 from the floor and 5-for-5 at the foul line.

3. Jackie Garcia, sr. — 10 points, four boards, three assists and always-steady play form a senior that is playing her best basketball at the end of the season.

4. Scout Wiebe, so. — The usual sub was a first-quarter stud as a starter. Wiebe made five straight field goals and scored all 12 of her points in the first quarter as the Firebirds exploded for a 32-8 lead after just eight minutes.

5. Chelsea Casady, jr. — Six points, five boards and three assists for Chelsea, who was able to be less aggressive on offense with so many Firebirds hitting.

6. A'Liyah Rogers, jr. — Two steals and five points in the third quarter for the strong-willed defender kept FSHS rolling.

7. Abbey Casady, jr. — A nice job off the bench, with five points, a couple of steals and an assist.

8. Summer Frantz, jr. — Hit a three-pointer and a free throw late to chip in four points.

9. Baha White, sr. — Didn't come in until the fourth quarter, but still found a pair of rebounds.

Lawrence girls

1. Kionna Coleman, so. — The Lions' most effective offensive weapon — Coleman scored a team-best 12 points — also crashed the glass and had seven rebounds.

2. Bri Anderson, jr. — Strong off the bench for Lawrence with nine points and a couple rebounds.

3. Monica Howard, jr. — Six points, four rebounds and a pair of assists for the LHS junior.

4. Kylie Seaman, jr. — Hustled like she always does and came up with five points.

5. Marissa Pope, fr. — In flashes, it's easy to see how much Pope will help this program during the next few years, especially on defense.

6. Bri Anglin, sr. — Not a typical starter, but gave the Lions four points and three boards.

7. Christina Haswood, sr. — Busted out of a bit of a slump with a three-pointer in the City Showdown.

8. Jolana Shield, fr. — For someone making her City Showdown debut, not too bad. The frosh hit a three-pointer and worked for a couple rebounds. Even passed out an assist.

9. Anna Wright, jr. — Like many guards against Free State, Wright had difficulty scoring.

10. Mutiyat Hameed, sr. — Got the Senior Night start and gathered two rebounds.

11. Harley Phelps, so. — An absolutely awesome moment for Phelps and her family, as she hit two inspiring free throws.

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If the Sunflower League had a television network, Friday night's girls basketball game between Free State and Olathe South would be an instant classic.

Free State nearly made program history, but the Firebirds' winless streak against O-South continued when Megan Balcom hit a three at the buzzer to beat FSHS 52-50.

Coach Bryan Duncan and his team were right there at the finish and it took a spectacular play to beat them.

"I was nervous the whole way," Duncan said of the final minutes. "I felt good because we were playing so well. It's one of those situations where what happens is gonna happen, and their player made a big-time shot."

Here are the "Prep Appraisals" from the thriller.

1. Chelsea Casady, jr. — Chelsea has taken her game to another level this week. Not only did her defense (three steals, getting in post passing lanes, contesting shots) help Free State come oh-so-close to knocking off O-South, she went 7-for-12 from the floor, with an array of post moves, drives and jumpers on the way to an 18-point night. And she pulled in five boards.

2. Kennedy Kirkpatrick, jr. — The only time Kirkpatrick wasn't herself was in the third quarter, and it should come as no surprise that that's when O-South made its run. No knock on Kirkpatrick, though. The shots just weren't falling. In the other three quarters, she went 6-for-12, totaling 16 points. Her free throw with 16 seconds left looked like a game-winner, and would've been, too, if Balcom's three-pointer hadn't fallen.

3. Lynn Robinson, sr. — Another big rebounding effort for Robinson, who finished with five boards. She scored just four points, but her floater in the lane early in the third quarter stopped a 7-0 Falcons run. If you ever wonder about how much Robinson means to this team, you could see it in the fourth quarter when she went to the floor for a steal while taking a knee to the face.

4. Jackie Garcia, sr. — She started the game looking for her own shot with drives to the lane in the opening minutes and that aggressiveness set her up for the rest of the game. While Garcia scored all four of her points in the first, she came up with a few big rebounds and dished three assists against a difficult opponent that kept nearly all the Firebirds under wrap.

5. Abbey Casady, jr. — The Firebirds were glad to have Abbey back in the lineup after missing her on Tuesday. She scored four points and had four rebounds and an assist. With less than a minute to go, she controlled a key defensive rebound in traffic and stayed in bounds while fleeing defenders along the baseline.

6. A'Liyah Rogers, jr. — The back-up guard scored all four of her points in the second quarter as FSHS built a 10-point halftime lead. Rogers knocked down a three-pointer off a pass from Kirkpatrick with 53 seconds left in the second. She also got on the floor for a key rebound in the fourth quarter and had one steal.

7. Scout Wiebe, so. — Four rebounds and a pair of assists for the sophomore sub in a game where every play counted.

Free State girls record: 12-4

Next up: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Shawnee Mission Northwest

Similar rally, same result

After the Free State boys had another fourth-quarter comeback attempt fall short in a 49-44 Friday loss at O-South, the Firebirds were lamenting their lethargic starts to games.

The glass-half-full view is at least Free State performed really well in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter.

Let's get to the "Prep Appraisals" from the game.

1. Gabe Patterson, sr. — As Free State surged in the fourth quarter, Patterson picked up his game on the glass. The big man went up high with power to nab eight of his 10 boards in the fourth. He also scored eight of his 13 points in the fourth and went diving head-first out of bounds trying to save an errant pass.

2. Brett Frantz, sr. — When Free State couldn't find the basket in the first quarter, Frantz finally got the Firebirds on the scoreboard with a nice move on the baseline. In the second half, his long-range shooting helped push FSHS back in the game, as he nailed three from behind the arc.

3. Cameron Dabney, sr. — After getting off just one shot in the first half, when FSHS struggled in the half-court against O-South's zone, Dabney got rolling in the third quarter with six points and scored four more in the fourth. His pull-up jumper off the dribble was almost automatic.

4. Cole Moreano, so. — The lefty hit a three-pointer in the second quarter for his only points but still contributed mightily in other areas. Not only did he chip in three rebounds, but the soph with the sweet stroke proved he is willing to move the ball on offense, distributing four assists, and worked hard at the top of the Firebirds' 1-3-1 half-court zone.

5. Kyle McFarland, jr. — One of only three bench players to score (seven played), McFarland went 2-for-4, scoring on an alley-oop pass from Moreano and a move along the baseline.

6. Shawn Knighton, sr. — No points for the starting point guard, but dished a couple of fourth-quarter assists during Free State's run. Those weren't his only big plays of the fourth, either. Knighton earned a five-second call on defense with less than six minutes to go.

7. Tyler Self, sr. — Coming off the bench, Self went 0-for-5 on some good looks, but he also grabbed three rebounds and had a steal and an assist.

8. Blake Winslow, so. — Two free throws were what Winslow contributed points-wise, but his hustle on defense can't be overlooked.

9. Reshawn Caro, so. — Caro found Moreano for an open three in the second quarter, when little was going right for the Firebirds.

10. Dimitar Gocevski, sr. — Didn't enter the game until the third quarter and barely played, but contributed with a sweet steal at mid court and an ensuing 1-for-2 effort at the foul line.

11. Keith Loneker, so. — The young sub pulled down a rebound in limited time against a tough Falcons team.

12. Logan Bannister, jr. — Not may minutes for the back-up post on this night.

Free State boys record: 5-11

Next up: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Shawnee Mission Northwest

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Down a starter, Free State High's girls still picked up a 55-48 road win at Leavenworth Tuesday night.

Abbey Casady wasn't with the Firebirds but other players had big nights in her absence. Let's check out the "Prep Appraisals."

1. Kennedy Kirkpatrick, jr. — She lead Free State with 16 points, and her most productive stretch came in the third quarter. FSHS kept pace with the Pioneers in the third as Kirkpatrick hit two three-pointers, went coast to coast for a layup and found Robinson for a transition basket. Kirkpatrick was 5-for-19, with two steals and six boards. Also had what Duncan called "her best defensive game."

2. Lynn Robinson, sr. — Free State couldn't get much offense going in the first quarter, but Robinson's play in the second helped the visitors get out to a lead. She scored eight of her 13 points in the quarter and finished with seven rebounds (including two in the final minute of a tight game) and three assists. Robinson was 4-for-16, plus she had the responsibility of staying in front of Leavenworth's Rashayla Mathis (no easy task).

3. Chelsea Casady, jr. — Most efficient night of anyone on the floor. After Chelsea missed four shots in a row between the first and third quarters, her confidence never waned and she she hit four of her next five to finish the game 5-for-10 from the floor. Chelsea also made all four of her free throws and pulled down a key offensive board in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

4. Scout Wiebe, so. — A first-time starter, Wiebe was a solid replacement for Abbey Casady. She played tough inside while grabbing five rebounds and scoring seven points. Wiebe was the scrappiest player on the floor and showed poise by sinking two free throws to put FSHS ahead by five with 28 seconds left.

5. Jackie Garcia, sr. — No points for Garcia, but she found spots to attack the gaps in Leavenworth's zone, held her own on the defensive end of the floor and found Robinson for s short jumper that tied the game in the second quarter after FSHS got off to a cold start.

6. A'Liyah Rogers, jr. — In the second quarter, the spunky back-up guard gave the team some defensive energy it really needed. Rogers also set Chelsea up for an easy baseline jumper in the third and drained a three to tie the game at 47 with less than five minutes to go.

7. Ariana Frantz, jr. — With one of its starters out for the night, Frantz benefited with more playing time. She hit a baseline jumper in the first quarter, when FSHS was already down five points. Later, in the fourth, Frantz's offensive rebound made Rogers' three possible.

Free State girls record: 12-3

Next up: 5:30 p.m. Friday, at Olathe South

Boys' rally comes up short

It was a disappointing first half that ultimately led to a 63-56 loss for the Free State boys at Leavenworth.

Even though the Firebirds played much better in the second half, they couldn't get any closer than four points in the fourth quarter.

Here's a look at who stood out for FSHS in "Prep Appraisals."

1. Gabe Patterson, sr. — An absolute stud for the Firebirds. Patterson missed just two shots on his way to a game-high 21 points. He hit all three of his free throws, pulled down seven rebounds and avoided disqualification despite picking up his fourth foul late in the third quarter.

2. Brett Frantz, sr. — His field-goal total of four was second-best on the team. Frantz was the only Firebird besides Patterson to reach double digits (10 points), and he brought down five boards.

3. Cameron Dabney, sr. — Though Dabney made just one field goal, he picked up some easy points by getting to the foul line, where he went 6-for-8. Dabney also secured five rebounds and passed out two assists.

4. Shawn Knighton, sr. — The senior point guard really got going in the fourth, with his only bucket and four assists. Each of his fourth-quarter dimes set up Free State big man Patterson for easy looks.

5. Kyle McFarland, jr. — Came off the bench, scored five points, had two assists and made a number of smart plays for FSHS. His steal out of the press in the fourth quarter set Frantz up for a basket, and less than a minute later McFarland drove the ball in for a layup, drew a foul and converted a three-point play.

6. Blake Winslow, so. — He scored four points off the bench and showed an impressive ability to make a spin move off the dribble that shed defenders.

7. Cole Moreano, so. — Whistles plagued Moreano all night, severely limiting his minutes and chances to produce. Moreano fouled out but scored and had a rebound, steal and assist in limited playing time.

8. Keith Loneker, so. — He didn't get a chance to take a shot, but Loneker showed some promise in a few minutes. In the third quarter, he had a steal and, later, when he saw McFarland cutting to the hoop, he hit his teammate with a perfect pass for a score.

9. Tyler Self, sr. — No shot attempts or points for Self on a slow night off the bench.

10. Dimitar Gocevski, sr. — Didn't enter the game until the fourth quarter, but showed nice energy in Free State's press. Gocevski even nailed a three-pointer in the final minute, when he was in as a defensive substitute.

11. Reshawn Caro, so. — In a road game against a talented team, the young sub missed his only shot attempt.

12. Logan Bannister, jr. — Not much playing time for the backup post, who had a steal in the fourth quarter.

Free State boys record: 5-10

Next up: 7 p.m. Friday, at Olathe South

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The confines of Shawnee Mission East's gym were unkind to Lawrence High's basketball teams Friday night.

The LHS boys suffered a 58-52 setback that had coach Mike Lewis and the Lions feeling troubled afterward.

"We need to be able to buckle in and do a better job when things aren't going our way," Lewis said.

Here are the "Prep Appraisals" from Lawrence's road loss.

1. Logan Henrichs, sr. — The do-it-all senior made a point of attacking the rim off the dribble, which helped him score five easy points at the foul line. He also cashed in two three-pointers on his way to 13 points. Henrichs got up for seven boards and swiped three steals, getting one while diving out of bounds and whipping the ball up the floor to lead to a transition basket.

2. Jake Mosiman, jr. — An explosive scoring night off the bench for the fearless gunner. Mosiman went 4-for-8 from downtown on his way to a team-best 14 points. He hit two from behind the arc during Lawrence's fourth-quarter rally, which eventually came up short.

3. Anthony Buffalomeat, sr. — Scored four of his eight points in the fourth quarter, when the Lions finally got going. "Buff" had a solid night and gathered a team-high eight boards.

4. Shane Willoughby, jr. — After a scoreless first half, Shane started looking for chances to put up points in the third quarter. He drove in for one bucket and scored in transition in the third. Shane's last basket came with just a minute left in the game and got LHS within four points.

5. KJ Pritchard, sr. — Just four points for Pritchard on an off night, but made the extra pass to find Mosiman and Henrichs for three-pointers in the third quarter and hit Buffalomeat for a score in the paint on an in-bound play in the fourth. Also drew a charge on a head's-up play near mid-court in the second quarter.

6. Bryce Montes de Oca, so. — A couple of quick whistles on the Lions big man in the opening minutes of the third quarter got his foul total to four and forced him to sit until about the six-minute mark of the fourth. Finished with five points and three rebounds.

7. Troy Willoughby, sr. — Gritty perimeter defense as a substitute again made Troy a key contributor. He scored his only basket in the final minute of the game, with LHS breathing down the Lancers' necks.

Lawrence boys record: 8-6

Next up: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Shawnee Mission West

Girls fall at SME, 51-36

The Lawrence girls had a rough first half as they adjusted to their new lineup against a solid Shawnee Mission East team, but there were a couple of highlights, which we'll examine in the "Prep Appraisals."

1. Monica Howard, jr. — One of her best all-around games in a while. Howard caught fire in the third quarter, draining all three of the shots she took from behind the three-point line. She also nearly reached a double-double, finishing with nine rebounds.

2. Kionna Coleman, so. — Opened the game on a tear, posting up strong in the paint and scoring the Lions' first three buckets. Coleman finished the night with a team-best 11 points and had three rebounds.

3. Bri Anderson, jr. — No longer serving as a spark off the bench, Anderson started and scored six points to go with a pair of rebounds and a steal.

4. Mutiyat Hameed, sr. — She didn't enter the game until the second half, but when Hameed got in the game, you could tell she wanted the ball and she made an immediate impact. Finished with seven points and two rebounds in limited action.

5. Anna Wright, jr. — Her threes weren't falling on this particular night, but that's bound to happen every now and then. Wright set teammates up for a couple baskets and scored one for herself.

6. Bri Anglin, sr. — No points, but some nice plays for the backup post. Anglin had two assists in the first quarter with nice passes over SME defenders to Coleman. In the third quarter, she stole the ball at mid-court, raced toward the basket and drew a foul.

7. Marissa Pope, fr. — Three rebounds for the freshman guard, who had the challenge of trying to keep up with and contain East's talented back court.

8. Kylie Seaman, jr. — Only one shot attempt for the defense-oriented sub, but she showed off her passing with a lob over the top to Hameed in the fourth quarter.

9. Christina Haswood, sr. — Went scoreless, but managed to pull down a couple key rebounds off the bench.

Lawrence girls record: 6-8

Next up: 7 p.m. Monday, Shawnee Mission West

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It was a clean sweep for Lawrence High's basketball teams on Tuesday at Leavenworth, and the Lions' boys capped the night with an impressive 46-38 victory over the Pioneers, who came in ranked the No. 5 team in Class 6A.

Lawrence coach Mike Lewis, whose team hadn't played in 10 days, said the boys had good energy and it only felt like they had been off a couple days at most.

"I just had a good feeling coming over to the gym today, honestly," Lewis said.

The Lions had to feel good all night, as the boys starters carried the team in its return to the court. Here are the "Prep Appraisals" from the victory.

1. KJ Pritchard, sr. — With the game in the balance, Pritchard took over on the glass. The senior gathered six of his seven boards in the fourth quarter as Lawrence held on for a big road win. One of two Lions to score 14 points, Pritchard scored seven of the team's 13 fourth-quarter points.

2. Bryce Montes de Oca, so. — The Lions were happy to see their big man occupying the paint once again. Montes de Oca scored 11 points in his first game in nearly three weeks, plus he gave Lawrence's newly installed 2-3 zone (which it started using in his absence) a new dimension: the unique combination of bulk and length in the paint that makes opponents think twice before going to the rim.

3. Anthony Buffalomeat, sr. — Co-leader in points for Lawrence with 14, Buffalomeat helped give the Lions confidence in the first quarter by draining a pair of three-pointers. The senior pulled down five boards, hit all six of his fourth-quarter free throws and, for good measure, dove over Leavenworth's bench to save a loose ball.

4. Logan Henrichs, sr. — Absolute workhorse on the glass, finishing the game with 10 boards. A constant presence on both ends of the floor throughout, Henrichs' most exciting sequence came in the third quarter, when he lobbed a pass from the left wing to Pritchard for an alley-oop layup, then drew a charge in the paint on the opposite end of the floor.

5. Shane Willoughby, jr. — Shane's stats weren't mind-blowing, but he made big plays in the second half. The starting guard drove in from the top of the key for a nifty layup in the third quarter. That was long before one of the highlights of the night. Shane executed on a difficult pass under Leavenworth's basket with the Pioneers applying full-court pressure. Pritchard leaked out behind the defense and Shane threw the ball over top of the press, leading to an easy one-handed jam for Pritchard.

6. Jake Mosiman, jr. — Came off the bench and hit a pretty runner in the lane in the first quarter. Only took two shots but gave the team another hustling perimeter player on defense.

7. Troy Willoughby, sr. — Troy's value off the bench came on the defensive end of the floor, with his relentless activity at the top of Lawrence's zone.

8. Tyrone Jenkins, jr. — Very few minutes for Jenkins in this game, but he came in and grabbed a rebound in the second quarter when called upon.

Lawrence boys record: 8-5

Next up: 7 p.m. Friday, at Shawnee Mission East

Birthday bash: Wright, Lions girls beat Leavenworth

Lawrence's girls got the night started on a high note and celebrated both a 39-32 win and junior guard Anna Wright's 17th birthday.

Said Wright afterward: "I was just ready for this game. I wanted to get this win on my birthday."

Lions coach Nick Wood said the entire team did a nice job of avoiding costly mistakes late in the game. Such miscues led to a couple losses this past week at the Firebird Winter Classic.

"It's really great to see that we made some positive strides and show that we kind of learned from past experiences," Wood said.

Let's get to the "Prep Appraisals."

1. Anna Wright, jr. — You say it's your birthday? Well, how about partying on the court with 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Outstanding night for Wright, the star of the game.

2. Monica Howard, jr. — Pretty productive night for Howard, who scored five of her 10 points in the second quarter. They all came on a personal 5-0 run against the Pioneers as Howard scored on a layup, hit a free throw, then shot through the passing lane on a back-court trap to convert a steal into a transition bucket. Howard also brought down five rebounds.

3. Bri Anderson, jr. — Another solid night off the bench for Anderson, who scored seven points and grabbed three boards. She got two of those with a basket inside in the final seconds of the third quarter, which put Lawrence up 28-19 entering the fourth.

4. Marissa Pope, fr. — Lawrence's lead had been cut to five in the fourth quarter before Pope cut to the paint and scored under the basket with just more than three minutes to play. On the Lions' next possession, she hit a free throw with 2:52 to go.

5. Kionna Coleman, so. — Got in some foul trouble in the second quarter, which probably led to a rare off night. Coleman finished with three rebounds and scored off the glass with a short jumper in the fourth quarter.

6. Kylie Seaman, jr. — No shot attempts for Seaman, but she still made an impact. Seaman came off the bench, secured three rebounds, had a steal and played solid defense.

7. Christina Haswood, sr. — An off shooting night, but Haswood found other ways to make her presence felt: she finished with three rebounds and a steal.

8. Bri Anglin, sr. — Just one point via the foul line for Anglin, but she showed she can execute up top in high-low action and she set a mean screen for Pope in the fourth quarter.

9. Krista Costa, jr. — Costa had a rebound and a steal before she collapsed in pain late in the first quarter with a right-knee injury. She remained sidelined the remainder of the night and Wood said the extent of the injury wasn't clear at the time. The Lions will miss Costa greatly if she has to sit out any future games, especially with Emma Kelly also out with an injury right now.

Lawrence girls record: 6-7

Next up: 5:30 p.m. Friday, at Shawnee Mission East

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The girls basketball teams from Lawrence High and Free State bookended Saturday at the Firebird Winter Classic with victories. Hours after the Lions finished the three-day tournament on a good note, the Firebirds protected their home floor in the tourney title game, knocking off Wichita Bishop Carroll, 54-50.

FSHS coach Bryan Duncan said the championship-game "W" and his team's semifinal victory over Topeka Washburn Rural the night before should give the players a boost of confidence, because both of the wins were in close games against quality opponents.

"When our backs were against the wall," Duncan said, "we really fought back and got a win."

As is usually the case in Firebirds victories, each rotation player had a huge part in the team's success. Let's get to the "Prep Appraisals."

1. Kennedy Kirkpatrick, jr. — Never one to buckle under pressure, Kirkpatrick stepped up in the midst of a neck-and-neck fourth quarter for Free State. She went coast to coast for a layup, pulled up for a three-pointer and sank the title-clinching free throws with 1.4 seconds left. Kirkpatrick finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, four steals and a couple of assists in the championship game.

2. Lynn Robinson, sr. — Not only did her steal and layup open a successful fourth quarter for FSHS, but Robinson also forced a five-second call with her quick feet on defense in the final minutes. Her three-pointer in the third was part of a key 8-2 run. Robinson finished with 11 points and three steals.

3. Chelsea Casady, jr. — Nice bounce-back game for Chelsea after a rare scoreless outing the night before. Though the responsibility of checking Carroll's larger interior players led to Chelsea fouling out late in the fourth quarter, she still finished with nine points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals.

4. Jackie Garcia, sr. — With Free State down five points at the half, Garcia made it her responsibility to get the team going in the third quarter. She converted a nice up-and-under move inside to score the first points of the second half and — after the Eagles scored to extend their lead — Garcia found Chelsea and Scout Wiebe for open jumpers.

5. Scout Wiebe, so. — Big bench production from Wiebe. She gave the Firebirds some toughness inside with her post defense and finished with six points and three rebounds before fouling out in the final minute.

6. A'Liyah Rogers, jr. — Hounding defense is Rogers' calling card — and nothing changed about that Saturday — but she also scored two significant buckets in the final 10 minutes. Rogers knocked down a jumper for Free State's final basket of the third quarter and cut from the weak side of the floor for a layup that put FSHS up 10 points in the fourth.

7. Abbey Casady, jr. — Abbey helped FSHS try to corral Carroll's bigs in the paint, knocked down a jumper in the first quarter and hit a pair of free throws in the second.

8. Summer Frantz, jr. — When the Firebirds found themselves in foul trouble, Frantz came in off the bench in some tough spots and helped FSHS hold on for a championship.

Free State record: 9-3

Next up: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, at Shawnee Mission West

Lawrence slays Sumner

Lawrence High's girls basketball team didn't let the seventh-place game or not playing in the main gym slow them down against Kansas City, Kan., Sumner Academy. The Lions dominated throughout for a 53-24 victory.

Coach Nick Wood said the Lions put an emphasis on starting the game off right and rode that momentum.

"They wanted to win that game," Wood said, "and they came out and made a point to do that."

Here are the "Prep Appraisals" from the blowout.

1. Krista Costa, jr. — What didn't Costa do? Her dedication on the defensive end of the floor gave the Lions the kind of attitude they needed in the blowout and she swiped five steals. Add eight points, six boards and two assists to the stat sheet and you've got quite the well-rounded game.

2. Bri Anderson, jr. — Talk about providing a spark off the bench. Anderson led Lawrence with 13 points (6-for-8 shooting), scoring six in the first quarter alone as the Lions opened on the attack. The junior forward was the only LHS player to score in every quarter and she finished with four rebounds.

3. Kionna Coleman, so. — It was easy to tell Coleman was determined to get LHS back on track after back-to-back tough losses. As usual, she was the Lions' best interior player and finished with 12 points, six rebounds and two steals.

4. Anna Wright, jr. — A key part of Lawrence's quick start in the first quarter, Wright cut to the rim for a layup and later hit a three from downtown that gave LHS a 15-2 lead. She finished with seven points, four steals and two rebounds.

5. Marissa Pope, fr. — With Sumner's defense unwilling to work in the half-court, Pope dismantled the Sabres in the early going, as Lawrence took control of the game. The small and speedy point guard dished out five assists and gathered three rebounds.

6. Monica Howard, jr. — Uncharacteristically, Howard only scored one point for LHS. However, she still contributed five rebounds and even facilitated the Lions' half-court offense in the first quarter, when she twice fed Anderson inside for a score.

7. Kylie Seaman, jr. — Her stats rarely match her overall impact. Seaman continued to show good decision-making on both ends of the floor. In the second half, she delivered two assists, the first one coming on a nice post feed to Coleman. In the fourth, she got in the scoring column with a drive to the hoop.

8. Bri Anglin, sr. — The senior post came off the bench and showed off some versatility. Anglin scored her first basket of the night by driving in from the top of the key in the third quarter. Soon after, she lobbed a pass in to Anderson for a bucket. Anglin finished with four points and two rebounds.

9. Christina Haswood, sr. — Showed off her rebounding skills in more way than one. Haswood rebounded from a scoreless outing the night before and showed off her ability to play underneath with four boards.

10. Mutiyat Hameed, sr. — Not much playing time for Hameed, but in the fourth quarter on an in-bound play she caught the ball in the paint and flipped it up for a score on a jump-hook. Then she got back on defense and forced a Sumner turnover.

Lawrence record: 5-7

Next up: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, at Leavenworth

— Be sure to follow @LJWpreps on Twitter.

There's a pretty short overnight turn-around between Friday's Firebird Winter Classic semis and Saturday's medal games, so this version of "Prep Appraisals" is going to be extra quick-hitting.

We'll start with the Lawrence High girls' heartbreaking 53-50 overtime loss to Blue Valley West.

1. Kionna Coleman, so. — Another solid night in the paint, with 13 points and nine rebounds.

2. Monica Howard, jr. — Ten big boards for Howard to go with nine points.

3. Krista Costa, jr. — Awesome night off the bench. Costa went for nine points, eight rebounds and four steals.

4. Anna Wright, jr. — Scored the first five Lawrence points in both the first and second quarter, helping the Lions find early success.

5. Emma Kelly jr. — Went down with an injury in the third quarter, but still passed out three assists.

6. Marissa Pope, fr. — Had a pretty drive and left-handed finish in the lane late in the second quarter to help LHS enter the half with a five-point lead.

7. Kylie Seaman, jr. — Just one board, but continued to hustle on defense and take on ball-handling responsibilities.

8. Bri Anderson, jr. — Her biggest play came in the third quarter, when she saved a ball along the baseline and passed it to Howard for a bucket in the paint.

9. Bri Anglin, sr. — Pulled down a couple boards and found Coleman for a post-up basket in the paint.

10. Christina Haswood, sr. — Drew defenders outside with her willingness to fire from deep.

11. Mutiyat Hameed, sr. — Dove on the floor for a long rebound, hit a turn-around jumper in the lane and passed the ball ahead to Coleman for a transition layup.

Lawrence record: 4-7.

Next up: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, vs. Kansas City, Kan., Sumner Academy.

Free State's 38-36 semifinal victory over Topeka Washburn Rural was a little low-scoring, but it had a thrilling finish.

1. Kennedy Kirkpatrick, jr. — A fourth-quarter stud, Kirkpatrick was deadly off the dribble late, scoring 12 of her 16 points in the fourth. Oh yeah. She hit the game-winner with four seconds left, too.

2. Lynn Robinson, jr. — Helped chase Rural's guards up and down the floor and was deadly from long range, with four three-pointers.

3. Jackie Garcia, sr. — Pulled down six timely rebounds, including one on the offensive end in the final minute that set up her game-tying basket.

4. Abbey Casady, jr. — Knocked down a pair of first-quarter jumpers as the Firebirds raced out to a 10-3 lead before things slowed down.

5. Chelsea Casady, jr. — Uncharacteristically, no baskets for Chelsea, but she passed out some assists and picked up a couple steals.

6. Scout Wiebe, jr. — Always manages to come up with rebounds against bigger opponents under the basket.

7. A'Liyah Rogers, jr. — The fact that Rogers didn't even take a shot is proof of how tough Rural's defense was. She still made her presence felt with her in-your-face "D" on the opposite end of the floor.

Free State record: 9-3.

Next up: 2:15 p.m. Saturday, vs. Wichita Bishop Carroll.

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Get ready for as much basketball as you can handle.

We'll be double-dipping with "Prep Appraisals" each of the next three days.

With the girls basketball teams from Free State High and Lawrence playing in the Firebird Winter Classic at FSHS, there's plenty of city hoops to digest.

Let's start with Free State. The Firebirds advanced to the tournament semifinals with a 69-45 dismantling of Blue Valley West on Thursday.

1. A'Liyah Rogers, jr. — The Firebirds' sixth man couldn't be stopped Thursday night en route to 13 points. Rogers went 6-for-8 from the floor with a three-pointer, was aggressive off the dribble and took her usual bulldog approach on defense, tearing all over the floor to harass opposing ball handlers.

2. Kennedy Kirkpatrick, jr. — The sweet-shooting junior rattled off eight of her 18 points in the fourth quarter as FSHS put the game away. Kirkpatrick also passed out four assists and would have finished with a monster night if some shots that normally drop for her had went through the net.

3. Abbey Casady, jr. — An awesome night for Abbey. First, she wows with her rendition of the national anthem, then she scores a season-high 10 points and pulls down four rebounds.

4. Lynn Robinson, sr. — She scored six of her team's first eight points, establishing an assertive offensive approach for Free State. With four rebounds from her perimeter spot and a couple of assists, Robinson did plenty to compliment a 10-point effort.

5. Jackie Garcia, sr. — The steady senior helped swing momentum back in Free State's favor in the third quarter, with a nice move to the paint for a score in the opening minute of the second half. Then she found each of the Casady twins for the Firebirds' next two baskets. Garcia passed out five assists, scored four points and had three rebounds.

6. Chelsea Casady, jr. — FSHS only led by seven at the break before Chelsea contributed five points, an assist and a rebound in the third quarter, when Free State began to put away BVW. Chelsea, like her twin Abbey, scored 10 points.

7. Scout Wiebe, so. — Free State's youngest rotation player scored a fourth-quarter basket on an offensive rebound, and finished with six strong boards to go with two steals and two points.

Free State record: 7-3.

Next game: 6:30 p.m. Friday vs. Washburn Rural.

Lawrence didn't fare as well in the first round of the classic, losing 46-34 to a strong Washburn Rural team. But the Lions had another balanced night.

1. Kionna Coleman, so. — The most physically strong player on the LHS roster, Coleman took down four rebounds and scored six points while mixing it up in the paint against taller posts from WRHS.

2. Anna Wright, jr. — The Lions got a hefty momentum boost at the end of the first quarter, when Wright picked up a loose ball and calmly made a buzzer-beating jumper. She finished with eight points and a couple rebounds.

3. Monica Howard, jr. — Her ability to impact the game in the paint helped LHS stay within striking distance in the second quarter, when Howard scored twice in the paint and made a free throw after securing an offensive rebound. She had a pair of fourth-quarter steals, too; finished with five points and three boards.

4. Kylie Seaman, jr. — Her enthusiasm is generally unmatched. Seaman drilled a jumper in the second quarter and stole the ball for a transition layup in the fourth. Plus, you can tell she likes to work on the defensive end of the court.

5. Marissa Pope, fr. — The young point guard finished with one point, but continued to make her presence felt on defense with her speed and active hands.

6. Christina Haswood, sr. — The senior's two third-quarter three-pointers gave Lawrence a chance to hang around with the Blues in the second half.

7. Krista Costa, jr. — A solid energy player, Costa had two steals and two rebounds and proved she isn't afraid to get a little dirty by diving on the floor after a loose ball.

8. Bri Anglin, sr. — The substitute post player knocked down a 15-foot jumper in the first quarter and maintained her role as a rebounder off the bench, securing three misfires.

9. Emma Kelly, jr. — Came off the bench and immediately hit a jump shot for LHS. Kelly also served as a key perimeter defender when she was in the game.

10. Bri Anderson, jr. — One of the Lions' key bench players, Anderson grabbed a couple big rebounds and passed out an assist.

Lawrence record: 4-6

Next game: 4:45 p.m. Friday vs. Blue Valley West.

— Be sure to follow @LJWpreps on Twitter.

Lawrence High's boys basketball team entered the Topeka Invitational as one of the less heralded teams in the field.

After Saturday's 61-41 beating of Olathe South, the Lions left as the third-place team at the tourney with a 2-1 record while facing three of Class 6A's top-10 teams — they beat No. 8 Wichita Northwest, No. 5 O-South and lost to No. 6 Topeka.

Riding high after their three-game stretch at Highland Park, the Lions are feeling confident.

As senior guard Logan Henrichs put it: "We just feel like we're really bonding well, know each other, getting a better feel for each other on the floor."

That showed Saturday as, once again, the Lions' top six players all made major contributions. Here's a look at Saturday's "Prep Appraisals."

1. Anthony Buffalomeat, sr. — With 10 points and seven rebounds, Buffalomeat was steady as ever. And he really helped LHS get off to the kind of start it needed. As O-South opened the game in a 2-3 zone, Lawrence kept the ball moving on a very long possession before "Buff" took a pass from Shane Willoughby and knocked down a three-pointer. Shortly after, the senior guard followed his own miss with an offensive rebound and score, helping Lawrence to a 5-0 lead.

2. Logan Henrichs, sr. — On an afternoon when free throws contributed significantly to the Lions' win — they hit 24 of 27 — no one was better than Henrichs, who missed just one of his 11 tries and was a perfect 6-for-6 in the fourth en route to 12 points. He finished with six rebounds and made an early statement by rising up to block Falcons 6-foot-5 big man Chris King in the lane.

3. Jake Mosiman, jr. — Co-scoring leader in the 20-point revenge win, Mosiman was feeling it in the second quarter. The net barely moved as Mosiman drained back-to-back threes. Then he showed he's not just a spot-up shooter, driving hard to the paint and stopping on a dime to drill a short jumper. It was the kind of game where onlookers were actually surprised when the ball left Mosiman's hand and didn't go in. He had 12 points and hit three from downtown.

4. Shane Willoughby, jr. — Though his nine fourth-quarter points were impressive, so were his passing and defense throughout the game, as he finished with 11 points and three assists. Between Shane, his older brother Troy and Mosiman, the top of Lawrence's 2-3 zone was nearly perfect, flying around the perimeter and into the paint when necessary.

5. KJ Pritchard, sr. — Probably Lawrence's most dynamic threat, Pritchard didn't try to do too much himself. He had taken 18 three-point shots combined in the previous two games at Highland Park, but reined it in against O-South, going 1-for-3 from behind the arc. Pritchard finished with nine points, three rebounds and three steals and was active defensively — nice all-around game.

6. Troy Willoughby, sr. — Troy's activity on the defensive end off the bench was a key part of the LHS victory and he was big in the fourth quarter, scoring in transition, passing out an assist and pulling down three rebounds to finish off his seven-point afternoon.

7. Tyrone Jenkins, jr. — With coach Mike Lewis sticking primarily to a tight six-man rotation, Jenkins didn't get many minutes, but he got a rebound in the second quarter and found Mosiman for a third-quarter three-pointer

8. Anthony Bonner, fr. — The Lions' youngest player only got a few minutes in the first half but began the second quarter by moving the ball to an open Pritchard for a three-pointer.

Lawrence record: 7-5.

Next up: 7 p.m. Jan. 31, at Leavenworth

— Be sure to follow @LJWpreps on Twitter.

Another tight game, another talented opponent, but round two of the Topeka Invitational didn't go as well as round one for Lawrence High's boys basketball team.

The Lions even bettered their three-point total from Thursday, burying 10 from long range against Topeka in the semifinals, but it wasn't enough to keep the Trojans from securing a 65-60 win a day removed from an LHS win over Wichita Northwest.

Ranked No. 6 in Class 6A, THS wasn't going to be an easy team for Lawrence to topple, and it took a number of Lions to make it such a close game. Let's get to Friday's "Prep Appraisals."

1. Anthony Buffalomeat, sr. — Simply put, the senior guard was a man possessed from the word go. Buffalomeat opened the game on a tear, determined to find scoring opportunities while not forcing bad or unnecessary shots. "Buff" was boffo, with more than half of Lawrence's first-half points. He finished with 20 points and eight rebounds and was the key to LHS keeping up with Topeka.

2. KJ Pritchard, sr. — Pritchard's shots weren't dropping early, but he contributed with solid passing and by playing within himself. Finally, in the fourth, he exploded for all 12 of his points, hitting three shots from downtown in the process. The only strike against him was picking up a technical foul after hitting a three close to the midpoint of the fourth quarter.

3. Logan Henrichs, sr. — With four steals and four rebounds to go with nine points, Henrichs maintained his status as the Lions' do-everything player. For the second night in a row, he calmly drained a three-pointer in a tight game with less than a minute to play.

4. Troy Willoughby, sr. — After cashing in a three-pointer in the second quarter, Troy stood out again with his equally quick and strong slashes to the basket. In the third, the 5-foot-10 guard gave Lawrence its first — and only — lead of the game with a fearless drive along the left baseline, finishing over Topeka's 6-foot-7 forward, DJ Johnson.

5. Jake Mosiman, jr. — The heady guard established himself early with a layup in transition in the first quarter, then got the Lions off to good starts in the second and third by hitting a three-pointer in the opening minutes of each period.

6. Shane Willoughby, sr. — LIke many of the Lions, Shane has a great knack for playing in the moment. Even though he didn't score in the first three quarters, the junior delivered two shots in the final three minutes as LHS made its one last push.

7. Tyrone Jenkins, jr. — The 6-foot-2 forward did exactly what LHS needs him to do. Jenkins came off the bench attacking the glass for rebounds. In limited playing time, he got up high and used his strong hands to snatch six boards.

Lawrence record: 6-5

Next up: 3:30 Saturday, Olathe South, at Highland Park.

— Be sure to follow @LJWpreps on Twitter.