Editor’s Note: This article has been translated into English.
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The first memories Sam Byington has of the Henderson Bowl are painted in the green and blue colors of Green Valley. When he was in elementary school, he would sit in the stands watching the rivalry between Basic and Green Valley high schools unfold, his eyes fixed on the field where his older brothers, Joseph and Ben, played for the Gators.
Year after year, Byington witnessed something special: a game steeped in decades of history, full of intensity, played before a sea of passionate fans. Now, as a senior and one of Green Valley’s standout players, Byington will step onto that same field tonight to face Basic in his final Henderson Bowl.
The community at his high school is expecting another victory, but for Sam, this game represents something much more personal: continuing the tradition.
“It’s always tight,” Byington said about the outcome. “Both teams are going to give their best because they know this is one of the biggest games in Nevada. And they want to win one of Nevada’s most important matchups.”
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Ask any Nevada high school sports fan about the biggest rivalry in the state, and you’ll get passionate, sometimes contradictory answers. The loyal supporters of Las Vegas High School swear by the Bone Game against Rancho, a tradition dating back to the 1950s. But if you go to Spring Valley High School, you’ll hear a completely different story: there, the Banner Game against Bonanza reigns supreme.
Few people outside the communities of these schools even know they compete every year for a simple 6-by-6-foot banner — the kind typically used to advertise local festivals. But for these schools, it means everything.
This is the magic of high school sports. These rivalries don’t need national attention or ESPN coverage to matter. They unite communities, create lifelong memories, and give us all a reason to root for the next generation.
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The Henderson Bowl stands strong.
Created by former Governor Mike O’Callaghan in 1991 when Green Valley opened as Henderson’s second high school, this rivalry is rich in history and heart. Basic’s coach, Jeff Cahill, embodies that connection: he played in the very first Henderson Bowl and returned in 2008 to lead the program.
“It’s a real family affair,” Cahill said. “My dad, Dan, is an assistant coach, and my son, Louden, is among the team’s top players. This is a true community school. People are proud to be from here. The area takes pride in being Henderson’s first high school.”
Cahill experienced the magic of the rivalry firsthand during his debut as head coach in 2008, a game with extra weight since the winner would also claim the league championship.
“There were so many people that day, a fantastic atmosphere,” Cahill recalls. “That’s what defines high school football.”
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The Cahills are not the only family with multiple generations involved in the rivalry. Both teams feature families with traditions, like the Ramos family at Basic this year: running back Maximino Ramos wears number 24, the same as his father did in the 1990s.
While the history and tradition draw fans year after year, it’s the competitiveness that truly makes the Henderson Bowl special.
Green Valley dominated early in the series with six straight wins in the 1990s when the games were often one-sided. But once Basic closed the talent gap and started winning, the rivalry became dynamic.
The drama speaks for itself: Basic edged out Green Valley in a fiercely contested game in 2003 — only to see the Gators get revenge weeks later in the playoffs, although without securing the coveted trophy.
“Both teams look forward to this moment all year,” Cahill adds. “It’s going to be a special night.”
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These special nights are the essence of high school sports. One team will celebrate victory; the other will suffer disappointment. But both will carry the memories forever.
http://lasvegassun.com//news/2025/sep/19/la-tradicin-est-muy-arraigada-en-las-rivalidades-f/