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

Free State senior Chloe Clossen blows past a Wyandotte defender during the Firebirds' girls basketball game on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lawrence.

A hot-shooting second quarter and clutch shots when it mattered were the difference on Thursday night as the Free State girls basketball team took down Wyandotte High School, 50-39.

The Firebirds were deadlocked with the Bulldogs after the first quarter and continued to put solid quarters together, which was something head coach Summer Frantz emphasized to her team after the win.

“It felt really good because we had to battle for a little bit,” Frantz said postgame. “Third quarter they went on a run, and then in the fourth quarter again they went on a run, and we responded both times. Learning how to respond to other teams’ runs has been big for us.”

Senior Chloe Clossen came up big in the win for the Firebirds, scoring a game-high 19 points while hitting five 3-pointers in the process. After the game, Clossen got a little emotional standing next to fellow senior Hadley Lonnberg, who hasn’t been available for the Firebirds this season.

“Me and Hadley have been doing this for four years. It hasn’t been easy, so it’s nice to see (the hard work) pay off,” Clossen said.

On Free State’s first offensive possession of the game, junior Libby Easter hit a 3-pointer in the right corner. The lead didn’t last long as Wyandotte scored the game’s next six points, but Free State was able to stall any further momentum by implementing a zone, keeping Wyandotte out of the paint.

“I thought we did a really good job,” Frantz said. “Our girls did a good job staying locked in when we were switching defenses back-and-forth.”

The adjustment allowed the Firebirds to keep the Bulldogs at bay, and an Addie Fulscher 3-pointer tied the score at six. Both teams were able to add one more field goal apiece and were deadlocked at eight at the end of the quarter.

Free State found early momentum in the second quarter by way of another 3-pointer from Fulscher. After a free throw for the Firebirds, Clossen hit a 3 of her own, and freshman Marlea Copeland got a great second-chance look to begin the quarter on a 9-0 run.

Wyandotte’s Ria Harbin scored four easy points in the paint, but Fulscher and Clossen both continued to make open 3-pointers, leading to a 27-15 lead for the Firebirds at halftime.

In the first half, Free State made nine field goals and six 3-pointers. Clossen made three 3s for all nine of her points, and Fulscher made two for all six of her points.

Frantz credited Fulscher after the game, saying how beneficial she is in ways that don’t necessarily show up on the stat sheet, like handling the ball against a tough zone and putting her teammates in positions to be successful.

Clossen and Copeland each added three points to open the half for the Firebirds, extending the lead to as many as 15 before the Bulldogs stormed their way back, finding Harbin often in the post. Harbin accounted for eight of her 14 points in the quarter as Free State led 37-32 going into the fourth.

“She’s tough,” Frantz said of Harbin. “We have to do things to counteract that, and so we work in practice a lot in post defense and not getting stuck behind. We adjusted once they started going inside more.”

The Bulldogs cut the lead down to four early in the fourth quarter, but Fulscher hit two 3-pointers down the stretch to extend the lead. Clossen put the game away with a nice baseline driving layup, and added her last 3-pointer in the final minutes to help claim victory.

The Firebirds will now have a week off before they begin the Capital City Classic at Topeka West High School next Thursday.

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

Free State freshman Marlea Copeland shoots a free throw during the Firebirds’ game against Wyandotte on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Addie Fulscher brings the ball down the court to the waiting Wyandotte defense on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lawrence.

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

Free State sophomore Sarai Preston goes in strong for a jump ball against a Wyandotte ball handler on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lawrence.

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

Free State sophomore Peyton Moore jumps up to block a Wyandotte shot on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Libby Easter closes out on a Wyandotte ball handler during the teams’ game on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lawrence.

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

Free State sophomore Sarai Preston goes up for the tipoff to begin the Firebirds’ game against Wyandotte on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lawrence.

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

The starting five for the Free State Firebirds huddle with their coach Summer Frantz before tipoff of their game against Wyandotte on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lawrence.

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

Free State sophomore Sarai Prteston is high-fived by teammates during team introductions before the Firebirds’ game against Wyandotte on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lawrence.

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

Free State junior Peyton Moore runs onto the court after being announced as a starter for the Firebirds’ game against Wyandotte on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, in Lawrence.

Free State boys fall in final moments in McPherson invitational opener

The Free State boys team faced a familiar foe in Sunflower League rival Shawnee Mission East to kick off the 61st annual McPherson Invitational tournament on Thursday night, falling in heartbreaking fashion, 48-47.

The Firebirds played from behind all game, trailing by six after the first quarter and 11 after the first half had concluded.

Free State embarked on a second-half comeback, and took a two-point lead with a 3-pointer before Shawnee Mission East hit a 3-point basket of its own with 2.4 seconds left to pull off the second win over the Firebirds this season.

Coach Dwayne Paul and his squad will have a quick turnaround, facing the loser of Manhattan and host McPherson Friday afternoon at 4:35 p.m.