photo by: Nick Krug/Joural World Photo

Free State's Mozae Downing gets up to block the shot of a Wichita Heights player during the first half on Monday, March 8, 2021 at Free State High School.

Free State’s boys basketball team has changed its team motto every year, but the one for this season has been especially fitting.

Win the day.

Those three words have been the mantra for the Firebirds throughout the 2020-21 season, starting from the first practice back in November up to this week’s semifinal matchup. FSHS (20-3) will face Haysville-Campus (20-2) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Wichita State University, with a trip to the state championship game on the line.

“I told them I didn’t know if we’re gonna be able to play tomorrow,” FSHS head coach Sam Stroh said of why he picked that motto. “That’s what I said from practice number one. We’ve got today, let’s win today. And we’ll worry about tomorrow when tomorrow comes.”

An emphasis on taking one day at time has never been more important than in the past 12 months. Free State was eliminated by Blue Valley Northwest in the opening round of last year’s state tourney on March 12, though the rest of the basketball tournament was canceled hours after that game had ended.

Then, there remained uncertainty about getting to play this year before KSHSAA eventually agreed to start the winter sports season on time. Masks were worn during games and precautions were taken, but basketball was played across the state.

For Free State, there were still challenges along the way.

The Firebirds didn’t get their normal offseason routine, and had to do a lot of their conditioning outside. During the season FSHS had to go into quarantine in December, which led to a 34-day gap between their second and third game of the year.

None of that seemed to matter, however. Free State managed to put together another strong season on the hardwood. It marks the fifth year in a row that Free State secured a state berth, inclduing three semifinal appearances.

“I think the guys have done a good job of preparing and adjusting if need be,” Stroh said. “Trying to just win each day, one day at a time.”

Free State certainly has won a lot of days this year. The Firebirds set a program record for wins in a season (20) when it earned an overtime victory against Wichita Heights in the Class 6A quarterfinals. It bested a 19-win mark by the 2004-05 FSHS squad.

“Anytime you break a school record, whether it’s individual or team, it’s something to be celebrated,” Stroh said. “It’s a great mark in terms of reaching, but we got other things we want to accomplish still.”

One of those goals is getting back to the state championship game, as Free State lost to Blue Valley Northwest in 2018 during its lone title game appearance. In order to do that, the Firebirds will have to defeat a talented Haysville-Campus squad.

Haysville-Campus made it the final four with a 23-0 record last season before the state tournaments were canceled. The Colts are led by Sterling Chapman, who was named the Class 6A player of the year by Sports in Kansas as a junior.

Chapman, a Tulsa signee, might lead the way, but the Colts have an athletic squad with multiple players capable of scoring in bunches. Free State plans to mix up its defensive look, utilizing both man and its zone defense that has improved since implementing it back in November.

“It’ll definitely be a challenge,” Stroh said. “They have experience playing there and I’m sure it’ll just feel like a home game for them because it’s right there.”

Stroh said the key to Thursday’s game will be Free State finding more success on the offensive end. The Firebirds spent the last two days getting plenty of shots up after only making three 3-pointers against Wichita Heights. Isaac Gonzales knocked down all three of those triples.

Yet the Firebirds have plenty of capable options on offense. Senior Andrew Piper has shouldered the load inside all year, while the offense really starts with junior point guard Mozae Downing.

Junior Cooper Jackson, who is the only FSHS player averaging in double figures this season, is a true threat from anywhere on the floor. Junior Dash Cleveland, senior Kris Daniels, sophomore Jailen Thompson and senior Cole Wheeler all are capable of providing an offensive spark for the Firebirds as well.

That level of balance is ultimately why Free State has accomplished so much already, and why it is one win away from playing for a state title.

“We’re not going to rely just on one guy to do everything,” Stroh said. “We’ve got multiple guys that can be our leading scorer and then that’s a good attribute in terms of just sharing the basketball and be willing to make the next pass.”

Tipoff for Free State’s semifinal matchup with Haysville-Campus will be at 7 p.m.

KLWN will broadcast that game — along with Lawrence High’s semifinal battle with Blue Valley North earlier in the day — on 101.7 FM and 1320 AM. Derek Johnson and Nolan Henderson will be on the call.

A live stream will be available at www.nfhsnetwork.com for both games, with a subscription being required to watch.

Each team has been allotted 1,200 general admission tickets, which can be purchased online. Given how close Haysville-Campus is to WSU, Free State is expecting its opponent to sell out its tickets.

“I’m sure Campus will have a good home court advantage in terms of the fans,” Stroh said. But we got to take care of our business on the court. Can’t worry about what’s in the stands.”

Class 6A state semifinals

No. 1 Lawrence (20-1) vs. No. 4 Blue Valley North (19-3), 3 p.m. Thursday

No. 2 Haysville-Campus (20-2) vs. No. 3 Lawrence-Free State (20-3), 7 p.m. Thursday

• State championship will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday

Final four history

No. 1 Lawrence: 16th semifinal appearance, 12 state title game appearances (last in 2017), 4 state championships (last in 1995)

No. 2 Haysville-Campus: 4th semifinal appearance, 1 state title game appearance (1988), 0 state championships

No. 3 Free State: 4th semifinal appearance, 1 state title game appearance (2018), 0 state championships

No. 4 Blue Valley North: 9th semifinal appearance, 2 state title game appearances (2014), 1 state championship (1997)