Lawrence High's Zaxton King, left, Free State coach Sam Stroh, center, and Free State senior Mozae Downing highlighted the city's all-Sunflower League honors for the 2021-22 season. Stroh was named coach of the year and Downing and King were named first-team selections, with King also being named the SFL sophomore of the year.

Free State boys basketball coach Sam Stroh and standout players Mozae Downing, of FSHS, and Zaxton King, of Lawrence High, highlighted the city’s all-Sunflower League honors this season.

Stroh, who recently completed his seventh season at Free State, led the Firebirds to a third-place finish at the Class 6A state tournament earlier this month.

After losing just one game during the regular season, the Firebirds rolled through the substate playoffs and earned a sixth consecutive trip to the state tournament.

After a nine-point win over Manhattan in Round 1, the Firebirds were knocked out in the semifinals by Blue Valley Northwest. Free State bounced back the very next day to defeat Olathe West, 58-51, in the third-place game. FSHS finished the season with a 23-2 record.

Downing had plenty to do with that success. A multi-year starter and one of the team’s top offensive weapons, the senior point guard anchored the Free State attack on both ends of the floor throughout the season.

At LHS, King was often the Lions’ top scorer despite being just a sophomore. Throughout the season, he flashed the ability to score off the dribble, shoot from the outside and finish above the rim, and he helped lead LHS to a 17-5 season that ended in overtime in the substate championship game.

Both first-teamers were finalists for a handful of 6A player of the year honors throughout the state, and Downing recently was named to the DiRenna All-Star team. King also was named the Sunflower League’s sophomore of the year.

Both schools had several other all-Sunflower league honorees, as well.

Free State seniors Dash Cleveland and Jordan Brown landed on the second team, while FSHS guard Cooper Jackson earned a third-team nod and Jet Dineen received honorable mention votes.

LHS senior Pearse Long also landed on the second team and the Lions had three players receive honorable mention nods — point guard Truman Juelsgaard and versatile forwards Avion Nelson and Baylor Bowen.

On the girls’ side, LHS junior Amaya Marshall earned third-team all-Sunflower League honors.

She was joined by teammates Lucy Hardy, Layla Harjo, Brynnae Johnson and Serenity Keo, who all received honorable mention nods. Free State junior Reece Hulcher also was named all-Sunflower League honorable mention.