Free State girls basketball falls to Wichita West, 48-24, in season finale

photo by: Chance Parker

Free State coach Chris Linner instructs his team from the sideline during the game against Shawnee Mission West. Free State fell 57-19 during the 2022 Lady Firebirds Winter Classic on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022.

The Free State girls basketball team fell to Wichita West, 48-24, in the season finale for both teams on Monday at Free State High.

Free State trailed by just three after one quarter, but could not recover from a 15-7 second-quarter deficit that put the Firebirds behind 25-14 at halftime. Wichita West won the second half 23-10.

“We stuck in there for a while, especially in the first half,” FSHS head coach Chris Linner said after Monday’s loss. “It just came down to things that have been haunting us all season like turnovers.”

As the Nos. 17 and 18 seeds in the Class 6A sub-state standings, the two teams met Monday for one final chance to play. Neither will move on in the 16-team sub-state bracket, which begins Tuesday.

No. 11 seed Lawrence High (9-11) will take on No. 6 Olathe Northwest at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Olathe.

On Monday, Reese Hulcher led the Firebirds (1-20) with 13 points. The Pioneers, who won for the second time this season, were led by Valadean Jones’ 14 points.

Ashley Ianello (4), Marrah Spriggs (3), Abby Jaimez (2) and Taylor Wiley (2) rounded out the scoring for the Firebirds on Monday.

The Wichita West defense applied pressure and forced Free State into 24 turnovers and several tough shots throughout Monday’s finale.

In the early going, FSHS stayed close with its defense, forcing six first-quarter turnovers and creating good shot opportunities off of them.

However, the Firebirds could not sustain that defensive intensity the rest of the way, as the Pioneers went on a late run in the second quarter to take the 11-point halftime lead.

Wichita West had several players score in double figures, and the Pioneers got several easy baskets off of their defense.

“They did a lot of things well,” Linner said of Monday’s opponent. “We just couldn’t put the ball in the basket.”

Throughout the season, the Firebirds grew together as a team and continued to find ways to improve despite the final scores not being in their favor.

Linner said he appreciated the team’s hard work and emphasis on having fun, which is something he hopes will carry into next season.

“From tryouts to now, the growth has been night and day,” he said. “We had to teach a lot in terms of basketball IQ and understanding the game. That’s probably where the biggest improvement came from this season.”

With only two seniors on the roster — Wiley and Tatum Frost — Free State is expected to return most of its team next season, including four starters who made significant strides as players and leaders throughout the season. The hope is that their growth this season will lead to more victories next season.

Linner said the Firebirds will have a motivated group when next season rolls around, and he believes that avenging a tough 2021-22 campaign will push the Firebirds in the offseason.

“If they don’t want the same season to happen, it starts now,” he said. “They’ve got to get in the gym on their own and they have to play as much as they can. Right now, they’re going against players that have (done that) and they’ve got to start working.”

BOX SCORE:

    Wichita West (48)

    Kiari Albright 5-7 1-2 11, Leela Jones 3-13 4-8 10, Samiaya Coleman 0-2 1-2 1, Valadean Jones 5-14 2-4 14, Siboney Peña 1-4 1-3 3, Jessi Kirkendoll 0-3 0-0 0, Ty’Airra Hardwell 1-7 1-2 4, Gabby Faust 1-4 1-2 3, Kennedy Khamvongsa 1-3 0-0 2, Totals 17-57 FG, 11-23 FT, 48.

    Free State (24)

    Abby Jaimez 0-6 2-4 2, Ashley Ianello 1-7 2-3 4, Tatum Frost 0-3 0-2 0, Symira Spencer 0-1 0-0 0, Reese Hulcher 3-10 7-18 13, Abry Hill 0-3 0-0 0, Taylor Wiley 1-1 0-0 2, Marrah Spriggs 1-3 0-0 3, Hayden Moore 0-1 0-0 0, Totals: 6-35 FG, 11-27 FT, 24.

    Score by quarters

    Wichita West 10 15 12 11 — 48

    Free State 7 7 2 8 — 24

    3-point goals: WW 3-18 Valadean Jones (2), Ty’Airra Hardwell (1); FS 1-11 Marrah Spriggs (1); Turnovers: WW 11; FSHS 24. Fouled out: WW: Sa’Miaya Coleman, Siboney Peña