photo by: Chance Parker

Free State senior guard Andrew Piper (20) goes for the rebound against Gardner Edgerton. Free State defeated Gardner Edgerton 71-38 Friday, Jan. 8, 2021.

Thanks to a shutout in the second quarter, Free State’s boys basketball team cruised to a 54-26 road win over Shawnee Mission West Thursday night.

Shawnee Mission West (2-11) jumped out to a 12-11 lead after the first quarter, but the Firebirds (14-2, No. 5 in Class 6A) took over the game in the second period. FSHS didn’t give up a single point during that eight-minute stretch in the second quarter, while scoring 16 points on the offensive end to help secure its sixth consecutive win.

That momentum carried over into the second half, as Free State gave up a total of 14 points over the final two quarters. Isaac Gonzales led FSHS with 12 points after knocking down four 3-pointers in the win.

Andrew Piper and Jailen Thompson each ended up with 8 points for the Firebirds. Piper and Thompson did all their damage inside the arc, as they both posted identical 4-for-5 shooting clips.

Cole Wheeler also scored 8 points off the bench. Mozae Downing finished with a team-high six assists to go along with 7 points.

Free State led by as many as 33 with 2:31 left to play.

The Firebirds have now won their first two games of the week, with two left to play over the next two days. Free State will host Shawnee Mission East at 7 p.m. Friday before traveling to Shawnee Mission South on Saturday.

Free State 11 16 16 11 — 54

SM West 12 0 7 7 — 26

Free State (54)

Kris Daniels 5, Mozae Downing 7, Jailen Thompson 8, Andrew Piper 8, Cole Wheeler 8, Isaac Gonzales 12, Cooper Jackson 6.