photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Alphonso Eason attacks the paint against Blue Valley North on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2024 at Shawnee Mission East High School.

Prairie Village — Down 10 points early in the game and nine points in the second half, the Free State boys basketball team stormed back multiple times, but couldn’t hold on, falling in its opener to Blue Valley North, 51-45, on Tuesday at Shawnee Mission East High School.

“I thought that our guys came out and we played tight, we were pressing, every time we were trying to make the play,” head coach Dwayne Paul said after round one of the Champions Showdown tournament. “The difference between winning and losing is making the big play when it matters.”

Guard Korbin Dowdell, one of the Firebirds’ leading returners from a season ago, scored eight points, six of which came in the second half, but it was AJ Eason and Bennett Nagel who led the way for the Firebirds, scoring 12 and nine points respectively. While Eason and Nagel both impressed, they also both fouled out of the contest with valuable time still on the clock.

“Bennett Nagel came in and gave us great minutes, AJ Eason gave us great minutes, but you can’t do that when you’re in foul trouble on the bench,” Paul said.

Blue Valley North got out to a quick start, using its length on the defensive end and pushing in transition, finding open 3s and baskets at the rim to lead 12-2 early.

Despite the early deficit, Paul was still confident in his team to battle back.

“The way we play, we’re going to be able to come back down 10 like that,” he said. “You got to be able to find that fine line between getting too high and too low — we were too low.”

After a lackluster start, Free State found a groove from deep, getting two 3-pointers from Connor McFarland to cut the lead to four. Blue Valley North responded at the buzzer with a 3 by Jackson Reis to take a 17-10 lead into the second quarter.

With momentum on its side from McFarland’s 3s, the Firebirds carried it into the second period. Braden Wilmes eventually cut the deficit to three, before a 6-0 run capped by an Eason 3-pointer put the Firebirds in front for the first time.

After cooling off throughout the second quarter, the Mustangs found their stride, executing a quick 5-0 run to end the half and take a 27-23 lead into the locker room.

McFarland led the Firebirds with six points in the first half, while Wilmes, Eason, and Nagel chimed in with four apiece.

The second half was much of the same, with the Mustangs extending their lead to nine before the Firebirds cut it back to four after five quick points from Eason. The two teams traded baskets for the remainder of the quarter, and the Mustangs led 40-35 going into the fourth.

Two points from both sides opened up the fourth until Eason hit a three, then Dowdell scored the next four points of the game, and Free State suddenly held a 44-42 advantage. However, the Mustangs got the next six points and ultimately held on for the 51-45 win.

Free State will be back in action on Thursday at 3:30 p.m., taking on Pembroke Hill, a talented squad from Kansas City, Missouri.

“We just got to play smarter, that’s all we got to do,” Paul said on the key to Thursday’s matchup. “The message right now is we got to be able to be tougher when it matters the most.”

photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Braden Wilmes looks to make a move against Blue Valley North on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 at Shawnee Mission East High School.

photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Korbin Dowdell attacks the basket against Blue Valley North on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 at Shawnee Mission East High School.

photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Korbin Dowdell dribbles the ball against Blue Valley North on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 at Shawnee Mission East High School.

photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State huddles during the game against Blue Valley North on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2024 at Shawnee Mission East High School.

photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore Maddon Brittingham shoots a 3-point shot against Blue Valley North on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2024 at Shawnee Mission East High School.

photo by: Chance Parker/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Bennet Nagel is jubilant after scoring a basket against Blue Valley North on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2024 at Shawnee Mission East High School.

Free State girls remain unbeaten

The Free State girls squad visited Sumner Academy in Kansas City on Tuesday evening, knocking off the Sabres, 49-46, to improve to 2-0 on the season.

The win marks the first road win for the Firebirds since Feb. 27, 2021, when the Firebirds defeated Junction City, 50-26. It is also the first time the Firebirds have started the season 2-0 since the 2015-16 campaign, when they started 3-0.

Free State will be back in action on Friday, getting back on the road to take on Shawnee Mission North at 7:30 p.m.

This story has been updated to correct the opponent for Free State girls basketball.