photo by: Shane Jackson

Free State senior Caely Kesten defends the ball during the opening round of the Lady Hawks Classic on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019, at Olathe East.

Olathe — Early in the fourth quarter, Free State junior Shannon Clarke drilled a 3-pointer from the right wing to pull her team within 10 points.

It appeared to be the start of another strong finish by the Firebirds, similar to their overtime win in the season opener last week. Instead, Nixa (Mo.) responded with a layup on the other end within seconds, and then proceeded to stretch its lead back out with a 6-0 run.

That was the theme of the game in Free State’s 61-43 loss during the opening round of the Lady Hawks Classic Tuesday afternoon at Olathe East High School. Nixa, which advanced to the semifinals, seemingly always had an answer for FSHS.

“Nixa is a really good team and they do a lot of things really well,” FSHS head coach Nick Wood said. “It is Dec. 10, and we have a long way to go. That’s why you come play games like this, so you can find out where you are at.”

The Firebirds (1-1) will now move to the consolation bracket, where they will aim for fifth place after netting seventh in this event last year. Although the final result gives the impression of a lopsided affair, the first game of this year’s tourney was anything but that for much of the contest.

Nixa jumped out to a 6-0 lead and led from start to finish behind a balanced attack. But FSHS never backed down in its first loss under Wood.

After falling into an early deficit, senior guard Caely Kesten got the Firebirds on the scoreboard with a triple at the 4:36 mark. Her basket was Free State’s first made field goal in the first quarter this season as the Firebirds failed to make a single shot in the opening period of their 36-33 win over Blue Valley West.

Senior guard Macky Moore netted a 3-pointer, and Clarke recorded a pair of baskets in the first period. Junior Evy Harrell hit a floater at the buzzer, pulling Free State within a 16-12 margin at the end of the first quarter.

“Initially, we came out of the game ready to go,” Wood said. “We were hanging in there and playing really good basketball.”

Senior Joy Nunoo converted a 3-point play to begin Free State’s scoring effort in the second period. The Firebirds even pulled within 3 points after a free throw by Clarke with 2:49 left in the first half.

The Eagles responded by scoring 7 unanswered points to take a 31-21 advantage into the intermission. After that, Nixa staved off any push by Free State throughout the second half.

“It is hard,” Wood said. “We are hanging in there and making it a game. They just continued to make shots. To their credit, they move the ball really well and they play disciplined.”

Harrell labored through foul trouble before ultimately fouling out, which hampered Free State’s production on both ends of the court. The Eagles had three players finish in double figures, led by a 22-point showing from Allison Kamies.

Clarke paced the Firebirds with 20 points, shooting 7 for 20 from the floor.

“That’s the Shannon that we need to have all year,” Wood said. “As a group, though, we have to all get going and get better.”

Free State will play its first game of the consolation bracket at 5 p.m. Thursday at Olathe East.

FREE STATE (43)

Evy Harrell 1-3 0-0 2, Shannon Clarke 7-20 4-8 20, Caely Kesten 2-8 0-0 5, Joy Nunoo 3-9 1-1 8, Robin Todd 0-3 0-0 0, Anna McIntire 0-1 0-0 0, Nysha McVay 0-2 0-0 0, Macky Moore 2-4 0-0 6, Molly Weishaar 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 15-51 7-11 43.

NIXA (61)

Gabby Nielsen 3-5 2-2 10, Tori Yantis 5-10 2-2 12, Allison Kamies 6-15 8-9 22, Rhianna Gibbons 0-4 0-0 0, Kenzie Hines 2-4 0-0 4, Adelyn Weaver 1-3 2-2 4, Katie Kamies 2-3 0-0 4, Emma Vincent 0-2 2-2 2, Emily Edwards 0-0 3-4 3. Totals 19-46 19-21 61.

Free State 12 9 9 13 — 43

Nixa 16 15 13 17 — 61

3-point goals: FSHS 6-20 (Clarke 2, Kesten, Nunoo, Moore 2); NIXA 4-6 (Nielsen 2, A. Kamies 2). Turnovers: FSHS 9; NIXA 10. Fouled out: Evy Harrell, FSHS.