photo by: Carter Gaskins

Free State senior Shannon Clarke (3) shoots a running jump shot in the second quarter during a game against Gardner Edgerton Friday night at FSHS on Jan. 8, 2021.

Long before Shannon Clarke scored over 1,000 points during her career with Free State girls basketball, she struggled to win a simple one-on-one battle in her own driveway.

Growing up, Clarke played her older brother, Daniel, almost every night in the summer. Daniel, who was six years older than Shannon, had a distinct size advantage. It led to a lot of Shannon’s shots getting blocked at first.

“He wouldn’t let me win,” FSHS senior Shannon Clarke said. “I’d come into the house crying because I couldn’t beat him and I’d be so frustrated.”

But Clarke never stopped trying to defeat her older brother. She learned to get crafty around the rim to avoid her shot getting blocked.

When Clarke finally got taller and stronger, that’s when she started to win those on-on-one matchups with her older brother. She admitted that her first win in the sibling showdown came when she was a freshman at FSHS.

Now, Clarke wins all the individual battles with her brother. Yet she knows she has him to thank for that. Daniel still watches as many of Shannon’s games as possible, and is one of her biggest fans to this day. They even break down all of Shannon’s games together.

“He’s the one that taught me a lot about what I know about basketball,” Clarke said. “I didn’t like (losing to him) at the time, but now I can see how much better it made me and how it made me tough and how it forced the competitive spirit out of me.”

Clarke is the youngest of three siblings in her family, which resulted in her losing a lot of games — not just basketball — growing up. Daniel played multiple sports during his time at Free State. Natalie Clarke, who is four years older than Shannon, also played volleyball for the Firebirds.

About the time Shannon started winning many of these family competitions was when she began leaving her mark on the FSHS girls basketball program. Clarke has been a starter since Game 1 of her high school career, and has been a key contributor ever since.

Clarke actually found out she was starting the first game as a freshman in the locker room from an older player. She recalls having her first shot blocked before eventually scoring 7 points in her debut at Blue Valley West.

“I remember being absolutely scared,” Clarke said. “I remember how loud it was because it was so much louder than all the middle school gyms I played in.”

Clarke has certainly become more familiar with it all since then. The 6-foot senior wing is averaging 14.4 points per game to go along with an average of 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest.

She’s just as effective on the defensive end, posting 2.4 steals and 1.3 blockers per outing while leading the way for the Firebirds (6-11) this season.

Clarke, who shoots left-handed and does pretty much everything else with her right hand, has become one of the top players in the area this year. It is a feat that is especially surreal for Clarke, as she grew up watching players like Madison Piper of Free State and E’lease Stafford of Lawrence High who previously were in that position.

“I admired and looked up to those girls so much,” Clarke said. “To actually fill their shoes and step into them was just something I was super privileged to experience. I’m excited to see for what comes next.”

Clarke got a glimpse of what could be next near the end of Saturday’s win over Junction City in the substate play-in game. It marked the first playoff win for the Free State senior class, which was a goal for the group entering the season.

Seniors Evy Harrell, Robin Todd, Daeci Walker, Thayu Kimori, Anna McIntire and Clarke all played a part in helping the Firebirds achieve such a feat. But what was even more meaningful to Clarke was seeing sophomores Myla Nover-Estes, Reese Hulcher and Marrah Spriggs get involved in the playoff victory.

“So many people got to contribute,” Clarke said. “We got to see the younger girls go on the court and kind of see the program that we’ve helped build. I’m excited to see the future of it play out.”

Free State’s immediate future will be a tough test at Topeka High (18-1) in the substate semifinals at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Trojans finished as 6A runners-up two years ago but were on the verge of winning a state title last season before the state basketball tournaments were canceled.

Regardless of what happens this week, though, Clarke won’t be playing her final basketball game. She is heading to play women’s basketball for the Naval Academy at the collegiate level, a journey that is slated to begin for Clarke in the summer.

Clarke isn’t really sure what her fit will be right away, but she plans to make an impact on the program in the end — similar to what she was able to accomplish at Free State.

“I’m just going to embrace whatever role I’m assigned,” Clarke said. “By the time I become an upperclassman, I really want to leave it better than I found it.”

photo by: Chance Parker

Lawrence senior Zeke Mayo defends the shot from Free State junior Mozae Downing on Friday at FSHS. Lawrence won at Free State 56-40 Friday, Feb. 19, 2021.

Other area team enter postseason play

While FSHS girls already have one playoff win, the rest of the local basketball teams begin postseason play this week.

On the boys side, both Free State and Lawrence High will kick things off with substate openers at home on Tuesday. The Firebirds (17-3) and the Lions (17-1) are both the top seed in their substate brackets after strong regular-season campaigns.

Free State will open with a meeting against Junction City (9-11), which is coming off a 68-57 win over Topeka High in the play-in game on Saturday. Tuesday will be Free State’s first game since its 56-40 loss to Lawrence on Feb. 19.

LHS, meanwhile, has a nine-game win streak heading into the postseason and is seeking a program-record seventh consecutive trip to the state tournament. Lawrence will host Olathe Northwest in the substate semifinals. The Lions earned a 63-47 win during the regular-season meeting between these two teams.

Lawrence’s girls basketball team (2-18) will travel to Olathe West (12-5) for its postseason opener. The Lions have lost 12 in a row, which includes a 56-33 road defeat to the Owls on Feb. 11. Tipoff for the playoff matchup between these two squads is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Substate brackets for local basketball teams

Free State girls basketball (6-11)

No. 1 Topeka vs. Free State, 7 p.m. Wednesday

No. 2 Washburn Rural (15-2) vs. No. 3 Manhattan (10-9), 7 p.m. Wednesday

• Substate championship at 3 p.m. Saturday

Free State boys basketball (17-3)

No. 1 Free State vs. No. 4 Junction City (9-11), 7 p.m. Tuesday

No. 2 Washburn Rural (12-6) vs. No. 3 Manhattan (8-10), 7 p.m. Tuesday

• Substate championship at 7 p.m. Friday

Lawrence High girls basketball (2-18)

No. 1 Olathe West (12-5) vs. Lawrence (2-18), 7 p.m. Wednesday

No. 2 Olathe Northwest (10-10) vs. Gardner-Edgerton (9-11), 7 p.m. Wednesday

• Substate championship is at 3 p.m. Saturday

Lawrence High boys basketball (17-1)

No. 1 Lawrence (17-1) vs. No. 4 Olathe Northwest (7-13), 7 p.m. Tuesday

No. 2 Olathe West (9-10) vs. No. 3 Gardner-Edgerton (8-12), 7 p.m. Tuesday

• Substate championship is at 7 p.m. Friday