Live updates, scores, how to watch Nevada’s Class 5A boys basketball state championship game between Coronado and Liberty originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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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.
The 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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FOURTH QUARTER
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Coronado’s Hunter picks up a technical foul from the bunch in between quarters, and before the fourth quarter even starts, Liberty’s Thomas steps to the free throw line and hits one of the two shots from the charity stripe. We start the fourth quarter with the score standing at Coronado 46, Liberty 38.
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END OF THIRD QUARTER — CORONADO 46, LIBERTY 37
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After a brief injury timeout, Coronado converts an offensive rebound to extend their lead to 46-37 as the third quarter comes to a close. The Cougars have the biggest lead of the game as they head to the fourth quarter seeking their first state championship in boys basketball.
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Hunter goes coast-to-coast after rebounding a Liberty miss. A spin move in the paint gets him to the rim, and Coronado goes up 44-37, the biggest lead of the game for either team.
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Coronado’s Hunter is left wide-open for a three around the 2:30 mark, and he cans it. Coronado up 40-35.
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Thomas lucky knock to pick up another foul challenging a Coronado 3-pointer that finds the bottom of the net. Liberty answer with a basket and a free-throw, for a 3-point play the old-fashioned way. Past the halfway point of the third quarter, it’s 37-35 in favor of Coronado.
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Liberty’s Thomas is the Patriots’ star, and he just picked up his third foul early in the third quarter.
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Liberty’s Thomas with a great assist for any easy layup. The Cougars then answer on the other end, and the offenses appear to still be in rhythm. It’s 32-27, Coronado.
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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
End of the 1st quarter
Liberty 11
Coronado 7Cougars made just one field goal and got on the board thanks to several Liberty fouls.
Not the best officiated quarter IMO. pic.twitter.com/5txPYSJf6C
— Alex Wright (@AlexWright1028) February 21, 2026
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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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Minutes away from the start of the 5A boys title game between Liberty and Coronado pic.twitter.com/ogBzwkXlT4
— Alex Wright (@AlexWright1028) February 21, 2026
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About to do the player introductions.
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Nevada state basketball finals about to tip with Coronado facing Liberty in a battle of Henderson rivals pic.twitter.com/3t0zygVCK5
— Raymond Brewer (@raybrewer21) February 21, 2026
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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
