photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

The Free State basketball team celebrates following its win against Topeka West High School on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Lawrence.

The Free State boys basketball team returned from winter break and began the calendar year with a season-defining win, taking down class 5A No. 2-ranked Topeka West 53-49 on Monday at home.

The Firebirds (4-3) held the Chargers to a season-low point total, and senior Ethan Prescott credited head coach Dwayne Paul’s effort in getting the team prepared.

“He pushes us every day at practice, and that definitely helps,” Prescott said.

Prescott said in order to prepare for Topeka West, the team often practiced with six defenders on the court to help deal with the Chargers’ length. While Prescott admitted he was unsure about the drill at first, once the game was underway, he and the team understood its purpose.

“Their length was just such an issue,” Prescott said. “And I think the intensity that Coach gave us, I mean, it really is a credit to Coach. Coach got us prepared, for sure.”

Offensively, Free State was paced by the play of sophomore Brendan Barrett and senior Bennett Nagel, who had 19 and 14 points, respectively.

“When they’re hitting (shots) like that, (the offense is) just clicking,” Prescott said. “It just makes everyone else’s job so much easier, and I’m so proud of them.”

Barrett shone early from distance, connecting on three 3s early to help the Firebirds get out to a seven-point lead in the game’s first five and a half minutes. A big key to the early lead was the defense of Free State, which held Topeka West’s potent offense to just four points during the run.

Prior to the game, Free State only played man-to-man at the defensive end, but went into a zone defense throughout the game, which worked in its favor, as Topeka West had many possessions during which it took 15 seconds trying to recognize what the Free State defense was playing.

“I thought we kept them on their toes, and that was our game plan,” Paul said. “I thought our guys did a great job of executing.”

The Chargers settled in the rest of the period, hitting three 3s and holding the Firebirds scoreless to take a 13-11 advantage into the second quarter.

After a bucket by Topeka West 17 seconds into the quarter made the score 15-11, Nagel rattled off five consecutive points to regain the lead. That lead lasted a short time, as Topeka West scored five straight of its own to once again lead by four.

After Free State scored two buckets to tie the game at 20, the teams traded scores, as a layup by Jayden Williams with 29 seconds left in the half gave the Firebirds a 26-25 halftime lead.

A back-and-forth start to the second half kept the Firebirds in front at 31-30, before consecutive buckets, including a 3-pointer by Barrett, made the score 36-30, bringing out an emphatic scream from Paul along the sideline.

“I was happy he had the successful 3 because he had been taking some really good shots all season, and it hadn’t been falling,” Paul said. “So for him to take the shots he was shooting tonight and not to press and then (for shots) to fall, it just is a credit to him, to sticking to the work ethic and staying (after practice) and getting shots up and trusting the process.”

The lead stretched to a game-high eight after a 3-pointer by Jadon Clock, and stayed there before a bucket by the Chargers made the score 44-38 after three quarters.

The Firebirds shot an efficient 7-for-9 from the field and 4-for-5 on 3-pointers in the third, which Paul attributed to the team’s effort to get into the paint and not turning the ball over.

“We knew we were going to get paint touches,” he said. “… It’s always great when the 3s fall, but when it doesn’t fall, we’re still getting free throws, we’re getting easy buckets, and that’s what we want.”

Both teams came out sluggish in the fourth, with the first bucket by the Chargers coming over three minutes into the period, before a runner by Clock right after extended Free State’s lead back to six. The offensive struggles continued for both squads from the field, but the Firebirds did enough damage at the free-throw line, including two free throws by Barrett with 2.4 seconds remaining, to hang on to the win.

Prescott said the win helped show the team what it is capable of, and gives the team a chance to continue building momentum with two more games this week.

The first of those two games comes on Tuesday evening as the Firebirds travel to St. Joseph, Missouri, to play Central High School before returning to league play on Friday, visiting Gardner Edgerton.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State guard Jayden Williams prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against Topeka West High School on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State guard Brendan Barrett watches his shot during the game against Topeka West High School on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State coach Dwayne Paul talks to his team during a timeout during the game against Topeka West High School on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State guard Bennett Nagel drives into the paint during the game against Topeka West High School on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State forward Bennett Nagel shoots a corner 3 during the game against Topeka West High School on Monday, Jan. 6, 2026.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State guard Jadon Clock sizes up the defense during the game against Topeka West High School on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State forward Bennett Nagel drives to the baseline during the game against Topeka West High School on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State guard Jayden Williams finishes through contact during the game against Topeka West High School on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Lawrence.

photo by: Nathan Friedman/Special to the Journal-World

Free State forward Bennett Nagel goes through introductions at the game against Topeka West High School on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Lawrence.