photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State senior Dash Johnson (15) puts the ball in transition during a game against Olathe North on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, at Free State High School.

A late push from Olathe North proved to be more than the Free State boys basketball team could handle in a 70-53 home loss on Wednesday night.

Down a possession to begin the fourth quarter, FSHS (3-4) was overwhelmed by a 30-point onslaught by the Eagles (5-2) that capped off a night full of woes for the Firebirds. FSHS finished the night with 11 team fouls and 10 total turnovers.

O-North junior Jaalan Watson cleaned up with a game-high 21 points, supported by seniors Aiden Bruce (12 points) and T.J. Porter (nine points). Senior Wesley Edison led the scoring for FSHS with 19 points, and sophomore Hueston Saunders added 16 points in the paint.

With a tough Sunflower League slate ahead, Free State coach Dwayne Paul is still looking for his team to demonstrate what it takes to finish ballgames when it counts.

“The fourth quarter was skewed,” Paul said. “That’s been our M.O. since the Life Prep game, Raytown South — we’ve had two and three stretches where we go up against a top 10 team in the state like this, I don’t care what the ranking says.”

The Firebirds opened the night just 3 of 9 from the field in the first quarter, with Saunders leading the scoring with just six points, and they headed into the second quarter down 15-8.

O-North committed three turnovers in the second quarter and allowed the Firebirds to scrape back within a basket with three minutes to go in the half. A late 3-point basket by Bruce, his second of the night, and a goaltending call helped the Eagles jump ahead 28-23 before the break.

Saunders returned for a big third quarter, adding six more points to the stat sheet. Edison added five more points late in the third quarter to help FSHS stay in the game — now trailing 39-36 when the third quarter wrapped.

Paul said Saunders is carving out his role in his own way.

“(Saunders) is right where he needs to be,” Paul said. “His ability to not get into foul trouble keeps him in pretty good shape, and I think a lot of times he’s got a good size advantage to him … He played pretty decent today.”

A 10-point performance by Watson kept the Firebirds on their heels throughout the fourth quarter, though, and junior Derrick Cooper came off the bench for six points — all behind the arc — to let the Eagles fly away with the win.

FSHS hosts Olathe East on Friday. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.

BOX SCORE:

FSHS 8 15 15 15 – 62

O-North 15 13 12 30 – 78

Free State (53) Wesley Edison 6-7 4-5 19; Devon Hamilton 0-1 0-0 -; Korbin Dowdell 0-4 0-0 -; Dash Johnson 1-4 1-2 3; Hueston Saunders 7-11 2-4 16. Totals: 18-32 13-19 53.

Olathe North (70) Sam Simmons 1-3 1-4 3; Aiden Bruce 4-9 2-2 12; Jaalan Watson 9-13 1-2 21; Elijah Madden 4-4 0-1 8; Andrew Yarnell 1-1 1-1 3. Totals: 27-41 8-17 70.

3-point goals: FSHS: 6-12 (); O-North: 10-12 (). Turnovers: FSHS 12, O-North 9. Fouled Out: None.

FSHS’ Anniston Clark hits double figures for 3rd straight game in loss to O-North

Freshman Anniston Clark scored in double figures for a third consecutive game for the Free State girls basketball team, but her team-high 17 points weren’t enough to prevent a 63-28 loss to Olathe North on Wednesday at home.

O-North sophomore Asia Lee (20 points) and junior Allie Workman (16 points) kept the Firebirds (0-6) busy all night long.

Clark, who dropped 29 combined points against Shawnee Mission North and Gardner Edgerton last week, helped Free State recover early on against the Eagles (3-4), shaking off a slow start and opening the second quarter with a 5-0 run.

FSHS added 11 total points in the second half, with Clark finding the rim four more times and junior Chloe Clossen (six points) adding her second 3 of the evening.

FSHS hosts Olathe East on Friday. Tipoff is a 5:30 p.m.

BOX SCORE:

FSHS 5 12 8 3 – 28

O-North 15 22 19 7 – 63

Free State (28) Addie Fulscher 1-1 1-2 3; Hadley Lonnberg 0-0 0-0 -; Anniston Clark 8-9 1-1 17; Chloe Clossen 2-5 0-0 6; Peyton Moore 1-3 0-0 2. Totals: 12-19 2-3 28.

Olathe North (63) Bailey Dillon 0-1 0-0 -; Rhema Stemmons 0-1 0-0 -; Asia Lee 6-10 5-6 20; Allie Workman 5-5 6-6 16; Lailah Simmons 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 20-30 16-17 63.

3-point goals: FSHS: 2-6 (); O-North: 7-10 (). Turnovers: FSHS 21, O-North 10. Fouled Out: None.

Johnson, Roman Nose highlight LHS road loss at O-East

Junior Brynnae Johnson and senior Emma Roman Nose shined the brightest for the Lawrence High girls basketball team in a disappointing 64-48 loss at Olathe East on Wednesday.

Johnson (17 team-high points) and Roman Nose (12 points) combined for 60% of the Chesty Lions’ production from the field, including 11 of 14 points scored in the fourth quarter. LHS has now dropped three consecutive games and opened Sunflower League play at 1-2.

LHS travels to Shawnee-Mill Valley on Friday. Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m.

Other scores:

Boys basketball: Olathe East 69, Lawrence High 47