photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State freshman Brendan Barrett shoots a corner 3-pointer against Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

The Free State boys and girls basketball teams returned to Sunflower League action for the first time since Jan. 17, and both teams fell to the Olathe Northwest Ravens on Tuesday night at Free State.

Free State girls go cold in 45-14 loss

The Free State girls suffered a cold stretch for most of the game, shooting just 4-for-27 from the field and 1-for-12 on 3-pointers.

The coldest period for the Firebirds came in the second and third quarters, when they scored just four points combined, all at the free-throw line.

Olathe Northwest raced out to an early 5-0 lead before freshman Marlea Copeland pulled Free State within two points. Both teams struggled on offense the rest of the quarter, as the Firebirds forced six turnovers while only getting two points from sophomore Sarai Preston the rest of the period. The Ravens added five more, taking a 10-5 lead into the second quarter.

“I thought our zone looked pretty good,” Free State head coach Summer Frantz said. “(We) forced some tough shots, and we were able to rebound, then we got tired.”

After committing just three turnovers in the opening eight minutes, Free State turned the ball over eight times in the second quarter and struggled to get into any offensive rhythm. The Ravens took advantage of the Firebird turnovers, starting the quarter on a 9-0 run.

“We battled there for a while, and then we got stuck there at five points and we kind of let it snowball,” Frantz said.

Free State got its only points of the quarter at the free-throw line as Preston added two to her opening half total. Olathe Northwest ended the quarter with four straight, including a buzzer-beating layup to take a 23-7 halftime lead.

The Ravens continued to put their foot on the gas pedal out of the locker room extending their lead to 29 after a 15-0 run. Preston got the Firebirds back on the board with two more free throws before the Ravens held a 40-9 lead going into the fourth quarter on another buzzer-beater.

Preston continued to be a bright spot for the Firebirds, getting to the free-throw line often and scoring all five Free State points in the fourth quarter, including a mid-range jumper to cap off the scoring.

“Sarai is tough,” Frantz said. “Her having the offensive production that she did is really good to see.”

Frantz added that what makes Preston so valuable offensive is being tough and being able to get to the free-throw line.

With a running clock, Olathe Northwest was content with putting together slow, pass-heavy possessions to try to get the best shot possible, and was able to ride that strategy to cap off its win.

Preston led the Firebirds with 11 points and Copeland added three.

With the loss, Free State falls to 3-11 and will visit Olathe West on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Addie Fulscher dribbles past an Olathe Northwest player on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore Peyton Moore dribbles the ball at the logo while looking for a teammate to pass to against Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore Mallary Hice looks for a teammate to pass to against Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Addie Fulscher shoots a layup against an Olathe Northwest player on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Chloe Clossen drives past an Olathe Northwest player on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Chloe Clossen shoots a layup against an Olathe Northwest player on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Addie Fulscher shoots from the top of the key while being defended by three Olathe Northwest players on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State sophomore Sarai Preston shoots a layup against Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

Late third-quarter run dooms Firebird boys against Ravens

After Free State took a three-point lead midway through the third quarter, a 9-0 run by Olathe West made the difference as the Firebirds fell to the Ravens in a closely contested ballgame, 51-44.

“It was back and forth the first and second quarter, and then (the) second half of the third quarter is when they kind of opened it up,” Firebird head coach Dwayne Paul said.

Paul added that the difference in the game was discipline and toughness, whether that be getting rebounds, finishing easy layups or making free throws.

Before the boys’ game tipped off, Free State led 1-0 after a technical foul in warmups on Olathe Northwest gave the Firebirds two free throws. Senior Korbin Dowdell converted on one of his two attempts.

The game’s first field goal came from junior Bennett Nagel before Olathe Northwest used a 5-0 run to take its first lead.

The Firebirds ended the quarter on a 7-3 run, getting four points from junior Ethan Prescott and a 3-pointer by Nagel to give Free State a 10-8 lead.

In the second quarter, it was a tale of two approaches as the Firebirds were able to make four field goals, while the Ravens got six of their 12 points at the free throw line. A 3-pointer by freshman Brendan Barrett created slight separation as the Firebirds went into the locker room up 21-20.

Another boost in the second quarter for Free State was center Braden Wilmes. Going up against 6-foot-11 center JJ Lee, Wilmes scored four points in the quarter, while also getting Lee into foul trouble. The Clemson football commit finished 4-for-5 from the field with a team-high 10 points.

“I thought Braden played well,” Paul said. “Your best players have to match their best players, and you got to match toughness for toughness and shot for shot. I thought that Braden came in and he matched Lee. He did his part.”

Olathe Northwest opened the second half with four points before Barrett made a 3-pointer to tie the game at 24. Free State took a 29-26 lead off a field goal by Wilmes, but then the Ravens used a 9-1 run to take a 35-30 lead. The Ravens got a lot of points on their run from the fast break, and junior Gavin Popik scored eight of his game-high 25 points.

“A lot of that was just our inability to take care of the ball, to get back,” Paul said. “I’d rather us to get a shot-clock violation, or drop or kick the ball out of bounds or something, and then go back and play defense.”

Paul said another key to the Ravens’ outburst was their high ball screens, which the Firebirds keyed in on during preparation to limit the Ravens’ success in the first half. In the second half, the Firebirds struggled to guard them, leading to easy layups for the Ravens.

From there on, Olathe Northwest was able to create enough distance to prevent a Free State comeback. The Firebirds cut their deficit to four multiple times, but the Ravens got a few clutch baskets and were able to put the game on ice at the free-throw line.

Along with Wilmes’ 10 points, Nagel had 10 of his own, while Barrett and Prescott each had eight points.

The Firebirds are now 6-7 and will travel to Olathe West, taking on the Owls Friday at 7 p.m.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State freshman Brendan Barrett shoots a layup against Olathe Northwest defense on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior AJ Eason drives past two Olathe Northwest defenders on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior AJ Eason shoots a 3-pointer late in the game against Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Korbin Dowdell passes the ball to a teammate against Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Korbin Dowdell dribbles against Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Bennett Nagel dives while holding onto the ball against Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Korbin Dowdell dribbles through the defense against Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Ethan Prescott jumps for a rebound after missing a shot against Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Bennett Nagel defends against an Olathe Northwest player on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Korbin Dowdell passes the ball to a teammate against Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.

photo by: Val Montanez/Special to the Journal-World

Free State junior Braden Wilmes looks for a teammate to pass to against Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Lawrence.