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

Lawrence High sophomore Joey Dooley looks for options while being guarded by Free State's Ethan Prescott during the City Showdown basketball game on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at Free State High School in Lawrence.

Postseason has arrived for Kansas high school basketball teams within the 4A, 5A and 6A classifications. Included in those ranks are nine local high school teams who have their paths set to the state tournament.

6A boys basketball

Free State boys basketball finished 14th in the 6A West with a 7-16 record. For the first substate round, the Firebirds will be on the road facing No. 3 Derby at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

This will be the second time that Free State and Derby play each other this season, as the two teams met in the first round of the McPherson Invitational. Derby got the 70-58 win en route to winning the tournament. The two teams also met in last year’s substate championship, a game that Free State lost 52-46.

A road win over Derby would put the Firebirds in the substate championship game against either No. 6 Junction City (12-10) or No. 11 Dodge City (11-12) on Saturday. The Firebirds started the season with a 64-51 loss to Junction City at home on Dec. 2, but the Firebirds have yet to face Dodge City this season. Dodge City and Junction City faced each other on Dec. 13 in a game that the Blue Jays won 65-46.

Lawrence boys basketball ended the regular season 8-15, which was 15th in the 6A East. That put the Lions in the No. 2 substate bracket, which is headlined by Mill Valley (20-3). The Lions will challenge the hosts in the first substate round on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

This will be the second time this year that Lawrence and Mill Valley have faced off, both having taken place at Mill Valley High School. The Jaguars got the better of the Lions in their Jan. 16 matchup, as they won 69-38.

A win over Mill Valley would put the Lions in the substate championship game against either No. 7 Olathe East (16-7) or No. 10 Olathe South (10-9). Lawrence lost 70-26 against Olathe East on Jan. 13 and 76-30 to Olathe South on Dec. 16. The Lions would be on the road as the lowest seed in the bracket for a substate championship game against either team.

6A girls basketball

Free State girls basketball finished the season 7-16 and earned the No. 13 seed in the 6A West. That put the Firebirds in the No. 4 substate bracket with 18-5 Manhattan at the top. For the first game, the Firebirds will face Manhattan on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

This will be the first time that Free State and Manhattan have played this season.

A road win would put the Firebirds in the substate championship against either No. 5 Wichita East (18-5) or No. 12 Dodge City (8-15). Both teams would be new opponents for the Firebirds. Manhattan and Dodge City are the only teams to have faced another team in the bracket. They met on Dec. 12 for a game in Manhattan that the Indians won 64-23.

Lawrence wrapped up the regular season as the No. 7 seed in the 6A East with a 13-10 record. That put the Lions in the No. 2 substate bracket, which Olathe South (18-5) headlines. The Lions will start by hosting No. 10 Shawnee Mission Northwest (10-13) at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

The Lions and the Cougars played in Shawnee on Jan. 9, a game that the Cougars won 55-43 over the Lions.

A win for the Lions would put them in the substate championship game against Olathe South or No. 15 Shawnee Mission East (8-15) on Friday. The Lions lost to Olathe South 57-34 on Dec. 16 in Lawrence, but the Lions beat Shawnee Mission East 45-42 on the road on Dec. 19. If the Lions were to face the Lancers in the substate championship game, the contest would take place at Lawrence High.

4A boys basketball

Baldwin earned the No. 3 seed in the 4A East with a 17-6 record, giving the Bulldogs the opportunity to host substate games. To start, Baldwin will host No. 14 Coffeyville-Field Kindley (9-13) on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

This will be the second time that Baldwin has faced Field Kindley this season. The two met in Baldwin on Jan. 3 in a game that the Bulldogs won 64-37. Last year, Baldwin and Field Kindley met in the substate championship in Baldwin, which Baldwin won 54-41.

A win over the Golden Tornado would put the Bulldogs in the substate championship game against either No. 6 Paola (14-9) or No. 11 Altamont-Labette County (13-10) on Saturday. The Bulldogs recently got a 68-57 road win over Paola, but they have not played Labette County this season.

Eudora basketball went 11-11 this season, which puts the Cardinals in the 13th seed. For the first round, the Cardinals will face No. 4 Santa Fe Trail (15-8) on the road on Wednesday. This will be the first time the two teams have played this season.

A road win would place Eudora in the substate championship game against either No. 5 Chanute (14-8) or No. 12 Fort Scott (11-11). Again, the Cardinals have yet to face either team this season.

Tonganoxie boys basketball finished the season 5-18 and 17th in the 4A East. The Chieftains missed the playoffs having lost the tiebreakers with Louisburg to take the 16th seed.

4A girls basketball

Baldwin finished 10-13 on the season, which got the Bulldogs the 13th seed in substate standings. For their first game, the Bulldogs will travel to play No. 4 Independence (18-4) on Tuesday. This will be Baldwin’s first time facing Independence this season.

A win over Independence would put Baldwin in the substate championship game against either No. 5 Hayden (17-6) or No. 12 Atchison (13-10). Baldwin has yet to play either team this season. In fact, none of the teams in the bracket have faced another team in the bracket.

Eudora girls basketball earned the No. 3 seed with a 19-3 record in the regular season. To start the postseason, the Cardinals will host No. 14 Louisburg (8-15) on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Eudora played Louisburg twice this season and beat the Wildcats twice. In the first matchup on Jan. 27, Eudora won 70-36. The second game was closer, but the Cardinals still won 73-50 on Feb. 17.

If Eudora finishes 3-0 over Louisburg, the Cardinals will host the substate championship against either No. 6 Ottawa (16-7) or No. 11 Chanute (13-9) on Friday. Eudora beat Ottawa twice, 62-54 the first game and 54-38 the second time. The Cardinals have yet to face Chanute this season.

Tonganoxie went 15-8 this season and earned the ninth seed in the 4A East. The Chieftains will start on the road against No. 8 Fort Scott on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

This will be the second time these two teams have played. Tonganoxie pulled off the 50-40 home win over Fort Scott on Feb. 13.

A second win would put Tonganoxie in the substate championship game on Friday against either No. 1 Rock Creek (20-3) or No. 16 Parsons (6-17). Tonganoxie has yet to see either team this season.

3A basketball

No. 3 Perry-Lecompton boys basketball (17-7) is in the 3A substate semifinals after beating Pleasant Ridge 69-33 on Thursday. The Kaws will host No. 6 Jefferson West (15-8) on Tuesday. A win would put them in the substate championship against either No. 2 Silver Lake (17-6) or No. 7 Sabetha (14-8).

Perry-Lecompton girls basketball entered the 3A substate playoffs as a ninth seed and lost in the quarterfinals 52-31 to Nemaha Central on Friday.

1A basketball

Bishop Seabury boys basketball lost in the substate semifinals to Burlingame 38-36 on Saturday after starting the postseason as the No. 2 seed in the substate.