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Free State players swarm freshman Morgan McClorey to celebrate a big play during a girls basketball game against Junction City at Free State High School.
Led by freshman Morgan McClorey’s 16-point outburst, the Free State Firebirds overcame an ice cold start to trounce the visiting Junction City Bluejays 53-28 in season-opening hoops action Tuesday night.
Free State (1-0) misfired on its first 15 shots from the field and trailed 7-0 at the conclusion of the opening frame. Their first points of the contest came early in the second quarter as senior Addie Fulscher found a cutting McClorey for the lay-in.
The Firebirds then surged ahead with an extended 18-3 run and led 20-15 at the half, with McClorey and fellow freshman guard Quinlynn Vail combining for 13 points.
The floodgates were still open when Free State returned to the court for the second half — opening on a 7-0 blitz via Vail’s 3-ball and consecutive buckets from McClorey to hand the Firebirds a 27-15 advantage.
Back-to-back 3-pointers late in the third quarter by Fulsher put the Firebirds on top 35-23 entering the fourth. Free State continued its torrid offensive pace, opening up the final frame on Aedri Grooms’ breakaway lay-in to key a 7-0 spurt. Free State’s lead then swelled to 19 courtesy of Taylor Hulcher’s traditional 3-point play as the Firebirds coasted to victory.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Addie Fulscher goes up for a layup during a girls basketball game against Junction City at Free State High School.
McClorey said that despite “a lot of nerves” upon taking the court for her varsity debut, she just needed to see the ball go through the basket to loosen up.
“That’s when I was able to gain a lot of confidence and I just started having fun out there,” McClorey said, while also crediting senior leadership for helping “calm things down” after a rugged opening frame.
McClorey’s first-step explosiveness and ability to quickly get downhill in transition made her virtually unguardable. She said that level of aggressiveness was honed through years of experience under her father’s coaching tutelage.
Free State head coach Summer Frantz added she has known for a while that McClorey had the potential to make an immediate impact at the varsity level.
“I don’t think anybody who has been in practice was surprised by how Morgan played tonight, and I’m really proud of her for starting off her freshman year [with a bang],” Frantz said.
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Free State’s Quinlynn Vail gives a shrug after drawing a foul during a girls basketball game against Junction City at Free State High School.
Frantz also lauded her squad’s defensive effort, adding that she consistently preaches to her squad that strong defensive play often leads to offensive success.
“The lid was on the basket during the first quarter, but we were getting quality shots,” she said. “And it was our defense that kept us in it.”
In addition to McClorey’s game-high 16 points, Fulsher chipped in 11 — while Vail dropped in 10 — and Hulcher, another of the fabulous freshmen, finished with eight points.
“We also got great minutes from everyone who came off the bench,” Frantz said.
With a varsity rotation that features a mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen, Frantz said she was pleased by how well the roster gelled against Junction City.
“We meshed really well,” Frantz said. “You can tell they really enjoy being around each other, and that started over the summer and has carried over.”
The Firebirds return to the court Dec. 11 for the Garden City Roundball Classic.
Coming off a 3-20 campaign, the importance of opening the season with a decisive victory was not lost on Frantz.
“We’ve only had six actual practices. So if we just keep getting better in practice every day, I’m really excited for what we can do.”
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Free State’s Taylor Hulcher drives toward the basket during a girls basketball game against Junction City at Free State High School.
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Free State’s Sarai Preston goes up for a shot during a girls basketball game against Junction City at Free State High School.
Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports
Free State’s Taylor Hulcher and Morgan McClorey celebrate after a girls basketball game against Junction City at Free State High School.
