Free State sophomore Evy Harrell (0) drives the lane in the first quarter of a game against Lansing at Free State High School Tuesday night on Feb. 5, 2019.

Free State girls basketball coach Ted Juneau thought his halftime speech might have left his team too confident.

The Firebirds held on defensively in the second half after a fast start to defeat Lansing, 49-44, Tuesday night at FSHS. Free State (7-8) led for the entire game and by as much as 13 at the half.

Haley Hippe and Evy Harrell each did not miss a basket in the first half. Free State finished the first half with a 64-percent shooting clip, shooting 14 of 22 from the field with three 3-pointers.

“We were trying hard to just continue,” coach Ted Juneau said. “If we could just keep the pressure on them by executing and making shots, it’s going to be tougher for them. Give (Lansing) credit. They did not quit, they kept fighting back. I have a lot of respect for them.”

Sam Lawrence led the field with 16 points on 6 of 11 shots. She netted a game-high three 3-pointers and added a point from two attempts at the charity stripe, as well. Shannon Clarke joined in with a double-digit scoring effort by notching 13 points on the day.

Hope Wheeler-Halstead and Harrell each recorded key assists in the first half, as well.

Lilliana Keathley saw the floor almost the entire game and scored on a triple to end the first half. Defensively, she was tasked with guarding Lansing’s (7-8) Grenda Smith and Caitlin Bishop.

Only one of the Lions finished with more than 10 points, Caroline Crawford with 14. Free State’s Joy Nunoo grabbed a number of rebounds off Crawford’s shots.

The Lions were within two possessions late in the second half, but the Firebirds were able to make stops when it mattered most and drilled free throws when given the opportunity. Of their 6 points in the game from the line, 5 were in the fourth quarter.

“We had opportunities for three or four baskets that were good shots that just didn’t go in,” Juneau said. “First half, they were, and suddenly we’re back in a dogfight.”

Junior point guard Caely Kesten didn’t play due to an injury. It marked the third game she did not play since the Firebirds’ home tournament.

“When (Kesten) gets back, we’re going to be better, not just because CK is back, but because we’re better,” Juneau said. “We’re more confident, we know what we can do. People are playing different positions, people are doing things that they haven’t had to do. If you look at it that way, we miss her a lot, but it helps us that way.”

Free State plays host to Shawnee Mission South at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

LANSING (44)

Granda Smith 4-6 0-0 8, Caitlin Bishop 3-8 0-0 8, Kennedy Farris 3-7 3-3 9, Jailynn Brooks 1-7 0-0 2, Caroline Crawford 6-142-5 14, Sarah Zule 1-2 0-0 3, Kamryn Farris 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-45 5-8 44.

FREE STATE (49)

Evy Harrell 2-3 0-3 5, Shannon Clarke 5-15 3-4 13, Sam Lawrence 6-11 1-2 16, Joy Nunoo 1-1 2-2 4, Haley Hippe 4-7 0-2 8, Lilliana Keathley 1-1 0-0 3, Hope Wheeler-Halstead 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-38 6-13 49.

Lansing 9 9 15 11 – 44

Free State 19 12 4 14 – 49

3-point field goals: Lansing 3-16 (Bishop 2, Zule), Free State 5-13 (Lawrence 3, Harrell, Keathley). Fouled Out: Harrell (8.7 4Q). Turnovers: Lansing 7, Free State 6.

Free State boys earn easy win

The Free State (No. 9 in 6A, 11-3) boys dominated Lansing (7-10) for an easy 63-39 home win Tuesday night at FSHS.

Three Firebirds finished with double digits, with DK Middleton matching Lansing’s Logan Bernard with 15 points. Ethan Lincoln led the game in 3-pointers with three for 11 points, and Noah Butler had 11 points, as well.

Starting at center, Turner Corcoran scored a quick 8 points in the first quarter. Middleton then made it look easy in the second half with two dunks on a pair of drives to put the Firebirds ahead by 20. Jaxon Malone and Jaxson Webb each made two late-game layups. Olin Yoder played most of the game at guard.

“We put four quarters together, and it’s been a while since we’ve done that. It was a total team effort, so I was proud of that,” Free State coach Sam Stroh said.

Free State plays host to Shawnee Mission South at 7 p.m. Friday.

LANSING (39)

Logan Barnard 7-9 1-2 15, Jaden Remington 0-1 0-0 0, Peyton Basler 1-2 0-0 0, Alex Mack 1-2 0-0 2, Jake Jackson 0-5 0-0 0, Andrew Allen 3-5 0-0 8, Derrick Robinson 2-6 1-2 7, Reece Thomas 1-2 0-0 2, Malik Benson 0-1 0-0 0, Mekhi Wilson 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 15-34 4-8 39.

FREE STATE (63)

Mozae Downing 0-0 1-2 1, Noah Butler 4-5 3-3 11, DK Middleton 5-9 5-8 15, Turner Corcoran 4-4 0-1 8, Ethan Lincoln 4-6 0-0 11, Andrew Piper 0-0 0-0 0, Jaxson Webb 3-3 3-5 7, Ryan Stacey 2-5 0-0 4, Jaxon Malone 2-3 2-2 6, Olin Yoder 0-1 0-0 6. Totals 23-37 14-21 63.

Lansing 8 13 8 10 – 39

Free State 14 18 14 17 – 63

3-point goals: Lansing 5-18 (Allen 2, Robinson 2, Basler); Free State 3-11 (Lincoln 3). Turnovers: Lansing 13, Free State 1. Fouled out: None.