Thanks to an impressive performance on both ends of the court, Free State’s boys basketball team surged past Derby for a 67-51 win during the semifinals of the McPherson Invitational on Friday.

Facing a 4-point deficit at the intermission, the Firebirds responded by taking over in the second half to advance to the championship game of the McPherson Invitational for the fourth time in program history.

Free State (8-2, No. 9 in Class 6A) scored 17 points in the third quarter and 19 in the final period in its comeback bid. On the other end, FSHS held Derby (No. 7 in Class 6A) to a combined 16 points in the second half.

Senior DK Middleton led the charge for the Firebirds with a 22-point performance on 9-of-14 shooting. He also collected a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with four assists. Andrew Piper (12 points), Olin Yoder (12 points) and Miles Branch (11 points) joined Middleton in double figures.

Sophomore point guard Mozae Downing recorded a team-high six assists in the win. FSHS only allowed one Derby player to reach double figures as well.

Free State will compete in the championship game of the 56th McPherson Invitational against Bishop Carroll at 7 p.m. Saturday.

FSHS 12 19 17 19 — 67

Derby 12 23 7 9 — 51

Free State (67)

Kris Daniels 0-1 0-0 0, Mozae Downing 3-4 0-1 6, Ethan Lincoln 0-3 0-0 0, Wyatt Durland 0-3 4-4 4, DK Middleton 9-14 4-7 22, Andrew Piper 4-4 4-5 12, Alyus Wisdom 0-0 0-2 0, Dash Hawkins 0-0 0-0 0, Olin Yoder 3-3 4-5 12, Miles Branch 2-6 7-7 11. Totals: 21-38 23-31 67.

Derby (51)

Jameer Clemons 1-5 0-0 3, Blake Chadwick 1-1 0-0 2, Devin Araujo-McKendrick 0-2 0-0 0, Nick Bonner 4-8 0-1 8, Jacob Karsak 2-4 0-0 6, Tre Washington 1-5 4-4 6, Grant Adler 2-3 0-2 5, Kole Barger 2-2 0-0 4, Ladell Clemons 0-0 0-0 0, Isaac Ray 2-8 0-0 6, Amari Thomas 3-5 3-4 11. Totals: 18-43 7-11 51.