Valley High School will host a doubleheader of Class 5A state championship basketball games Friday, with the girls title game at 5 p.m. and the boys at 7 p.m.
In the girls final, No. 2 Democracy Prep (16-6) faces No. 1 Bishop Gorman (22-3) in a rematch of last year’s state title game, which Gorman won. Democracy Prep coach Julius Barren has used that loss as motivation, showing his team clips of Gorman’s celebration throughout the week.
“One thing we’ve been showing them all week is Centennial’s celebration last year,” Barren said. “We constantly play that clip because we want to remind them you control that outcome.”
The Blue Knights are making their second straight state title appearance after moving up from 2A. They have faced adversity this season, including a flooded gym and a season-ending ACL injury to senior guard and UNLV commit Keonni Lewis. Senior guard Bray’ana Miles, a Coppin State commit, has stepped up as the floor general.
Gorman coach Sheryl Krmpotich said her team has unfinished business after Democracy Prep beat the Gaels in last year’s state semifinals. “It’s going to be a battle,” she said.
The boys championship features Henderson rivals No. 3 Coronado (16-8) against No. 1 Liberty (23-5) at 7 p.m. Coronado is seeking its first boys basketball state title under longtime coach Jeff Kaufman, who has led the program since 2010. The Cougars are led by four-star forward Munir Greig (16.1 ppg), who scored 22 points in a 76-55 semifinal win over two-time defending champion Bishop Gorman.
Liberty, coached by first-year coach Keith Ulrich, is led by senior point guard Tyus Thomas (14.6 ppg), Dante Steward (14.0) and Tayshawn Caesar (10.5). The Patriots won the regular-season meeting 63-59.
