Kendall WebbSat, February 21, 2026 at 4:15 AM UTC·3 min readLive updates, scores, how to watch Nevada's Class 5A boys basketball state championship game between Coronado and Liberty originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada, Feb. 20 — Nevada's NIAA Class 5A boys basketball state championship matchup is set with the Coronado [Henderson, NV] Cougars set to take on the Liberty [Henderson, NV] Patriots.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe two teams have met once this season already back on February 2. The Patriots won that contest, 63-59, on the way to fashioning a 16-8 record to date. The Cougars, meanwhile, are 23-5, and the game is expected to be another tight affair.
Both teams failed to advance past the quarterfinals in 2024-25, and Coronado will be seeking its first state championship in boys basketball since opening in 2001. Liberty opened two years later in 2003, and the Patriots were the 2021-22 Class 5A state champions.
The game is set for 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local) at Valley High School in Las Vegas. The game will be streamed live on the NFHS Network.
STREAM:Watch Nevada's NIAA boys basketball playoffs on the NFHS Network
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THIRD QUARTER
And the third quarter is getting under way.
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END OF SECOND QUARTER — CORONADO 30, LIBERTY 25
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And just before the half, Coronado gets the bounce and roll on a 3-pointer to make it 30-25. It's been a good one at Valley High School in Las Vegas so far, and the Coronado Cougars are one half away from the first boys basketball state championship in school history.
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45 seconds until the half, and Coronado is up 27-25.
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Thomas with another big 3-pointer for Liberty, and it's 22-all. They've still got a couple of minutes to play before the half. The offenses have definitely opened things up in this quarter.
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Coronado steals in an inbound and goes coast-to-coast for the finishing at the rim, and takes a 20-19 lead.
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A three from Coronado evens the score at 16-all approaching the halfway mark of the quarter, but Liberty's Thomas has the answer again with another tray of his own. Coronado's answer on the other end, makes it 19-18 Liberty.
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Coronado hits its first triple of the game to open the second quarter and trim Liberty's lead to 11-10. But it's brief as Thomas hits another three for Liberty to extend the lead back to four at 14-10.
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About to start the second quarter in Las Vegas.
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END OF FIRST QUARTER — LIBERTY 11, CORONADO 7
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Liberty's Tyus Thomas hits another three for Liberty from NBA range under a minute to play, and Liberty leads after the first quarter.
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Two minutes left to play in the first quarter, and Liberty leads 8-6. The offenses struggling to establish any rhythm so far.
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Liberty's first two baskets are from 3-point range. Under the five minute mark, they lead 6-4.
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Liberty gets the scoring started with a 3-pointer, and Coronado answers with a basket. That's how these two teams get this Class 5A state championship game started.
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They're under way in Vegas!
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About to do the player introductions.
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We're getting close to tip off in Las Vegas as the two teams continue their warmups.
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How can I watch Coronado vs. Liberty today?
Date: 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local) Friday, February 20
WATCH ON NFHS NETWORK:Watch Nevada's NIAA boys basketball playoffs on the NFHS Network
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