UPDATE: Bishop Gorman defeated Coronado High School 70-62 in the Big City Showdown event Friday night in Las Vegas.
Let’s👏🏼Go👏🏼Gaels👏🏼 @BG_Basketball FTW! 70-62 final score! #bishopgorman#bigcityshowdown
— Bishop Gorman HS (@BishopGormanHS) January 25, 2020
ORIGINAL STORY
The 12th annual Big City Showdown is set for Friday night as local powerhouse programs of Bishop Gorman, and Coronado High School face off.
Seats will be filled with excited students and fans, cheering for Gorman or Coronado in the showdown set for 8 p.m. at the Cox Pavilion.
“They’re excited to play Bishop Gorman. It’s a rivalry for us. They have a great team. We want to beat that team, so they’re excited about that,” Jeff Kaufman, Coronado High School’s head coach, said.
Bishop Gorman usually plays Findley Prep in the showdown, but this year Coronado steps in.
“With Findley Prep not operating this year, we definitely found a great opponent in Coronado. So, we’re excited to keep that going on with the Big City Showdown,” Grant Rice, Bishop Gorman High School’s head coach, said.
It’s a highly anticipated matchup featuring division one prospects, and the top two ranked high school basketball teams in the state, according to MaxPreps.
“All these kids are friends off the court, but it’s going to be a battle. They’re excited. Both groups are excited. Both student sections are ready for war, and both schools are going to come representing,” Rice said.
The game will be televised on ESPNU, and the national attention will be meaningful for the players - especially those who will finish their playing career at the high school level.
“It’s a great experience. It’s something they’ll always remember, and it’s something they’ll tell their families, ‘I played on national television’,” Kaufman said.