photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State guard Korbin Dowdell claps during the City Showdown against Lawrence on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.

After back-to-back boys basketball losses to their rivals, the Free State Firebirds won 69-49 over Lawrence at LHS on Friday.

“I haven’t heard a crowd that loud that I’ve played in,” senior Korbin Dowdell said. “It felt good to have their arena feel like ours. It was a good time for us.”

The first half of the game was fast-paced, with plenty of 3-point shooting from both teams. Free State junior Braden Wilmes scored the opening bucket with an assist from junior Ethan Prescott. The Lions missed their first few shots before senior Aden Ramirez connected on the first of three first-half 3-pointers.

The Firebirds built a slight lead with 3-pointers from junior Bennett Nagel and Dowdell. Lawrence senior Avery Johnson hit his first 3 of the game to make it a 13-10 Free State lead.

A cardiac emergency in the stands halted the game for a few minutes, and both teams left for the locker room. The man affected was able to walk with assistance down the bleachers and onto a stretcher before giving two thumbs up to the applauding crowd.

The game resumed with junior Josh Galbreath cutting the Firebirds’ lead to 1, but Dowdell later drew a foul on Galbreath and converted the and-1. Free State built a seven-point lead late in the quarter before Lawrence junior Devin Foster scored the final field goal of the period, leaving Free State up 23-18 after the first 8 minutes.

Free State was almost unstoppable from 3 in the first half, shooting 71%. While most of the team’s points came from beyond the arc, Free State coach Dwayne Paul was proud of the game’s offensive process and shot selection. The team was driving and kicking out to open shooters on the perimeter.

“(We’re) going to the gym at 5 a.m., putting in the work,” Dowdell said. “We deserve this. We put in the work, (and) we knew it would show out here.”

Lawrence started hot in the second quarter. Johnson scored on the opening possession, and Ramirez hit back-to-back 3s to give the Lions a 3-point lead. The lead didn’t stay long as Free State freshman Brendan Barrett scored 8 straight. Dowdell followed him with a 3 that barely beat the shot clock, giving the Firebirds a 34-28 lead.

Foster scored four quick points to cut the Firebirds’ lead in half, but after a Dowdell 3 and two free throws from Ben Graves, the Firebirds took a 9-point lead into halftime.

Dowdell and Wilmes started the second half with buckets in the paint. The Firebirds’ offense attacked the paint heavily, and those two did much of the scoring. They accounted for 10 of the team’s 11 points.

On the other side, Lawrence also worked the inside and scored seven of its nine points from free throws.

Free State held Lawrence at arm’s length from 26-26 on, and the team started to pull away in a big way in the fourth.

Dowdell said Paul often reminds the team that their opponents can go on a 10-0 run just as fast. The Firebirds must keep their heads down and play hard when they have a lead, and they did that on Friday.

Normally, Paul would tell the team to keep the emotions out of the game. Given the rivalry, Paul wanted them to live in the moment and play with emotion.

“You’ve got to feel every emotion — the good, the bad, the ups, the downs,” he said. “They did that, and they got up five, six points, responded back, and kept punching.”

Wilmes was looking to get his first dunk all year. With only three regular-season games left, time was running out for the junior big. His football teammates had given him a hard time, telling him he needed to show off his athleticism.

“From the start, when they were running the press the entire time, I knew there was a little opening there,” Wilmes said. “I had multiple tries to get it, and my teammate threw a little no-look pass, and I was just wide open — I was so ready.”

The 6-foot-8 Wilmes dunked it and set off the Firebird fans, coaches and players. A rowdy green-and-silver hostile crowd got even louder, and the energy permeated through the gym.

“It was an out-of-body experience,” Wilmes said. “I didn’t think I had the vertical, but it was amazing.”

Wilmes tried for another one but missed and hit the rim. He turned to his teammates and gave a smile with his tongue out. That time, Wilmes said his legs gave out midway through the jump and that he “got a little too cocky.”

“We never need 20 points from Braden,” Paul said. “But to control the paint, be a presence… he gave us that. I was proud of him. He was adamant about getting that dunk all year, so to get that against Lawrence High in their place… I was happy for him.”

The Firebirds continued to put their foot on the gas through the final minutes and won 69-49 over their rival. For seniors like Dowdell and AJ Eason, a win over Lawrence took a long time.

“It’s always great to beat a rival, but more importantly, it’s good to play well,” Paul said. “It’s good to guard well. We shared the ball well. It’s always great when shots go in. I’m happy for the guys, especially for the seniors. Going out and beating Lawrence High is always great.”

Lawrence coach Nick Wood said the Lawrence locker room was down after the game. He was proud of how his team responded to Free State’s shooting and their effort throughout the game.

“Our kids battled, and it is what it is,” Wood said. “We will learn from it, and we will move on. The season doesn’t end tonight.”

Free State will finish the regular season at home twice with Shawnee Mission Northwest on Tuesday and Mill Valley on Friday. Lawrence will be on the road twice against Shawnee Mission North on Tuesday and Gardner Edgerton on Friday.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State’s Braden Wilmes leaps toward the basket against Lawrence High in the City Showdown on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High’s Avery Johnson dribbles ahead against Free State in City Showdown on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State’s AJ Eason shoots against Lawrence High in the City Showdown on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State’s Braden Wilmes snags the ball against Lawrence High in the City Showdown on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High’s Avery Johnson shoots a 3-pointer at the City Showdown against Free State on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Free State’s Korbin Dowdell takes the ball up the court against Lawrence High in the City Showdown on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High’s Josh Galbreath shoots over Free State’s Braden Wilmes at the City Showdown on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Lawrence High’s Avery Johnson is jubilant against Free State on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

The Lawrence High bench watches the action against Free State at the City Showdown on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.