Lawrence High junior Taylor Bird, left, and Free State junior Taylor Manning share first and middle names, a longtime friendship and a passion for the color pink. Other than that, they couldn't be more different.

Allow me to introduce you to Taylor Elizabeth.

She’s 5-foot-9 and also 6-foot-1. She plays guard for Lawrence High and forward for Free State High. She was born on Sept. 7, 1990, and again on April 20, 1991.

Confused yet?

Don’t be. Thursday night, when the first of two city showdowns between Lawrence High and Free State tips off at 5:30 p.m. in the LHS gym, you’ll easily be able to tell the two apart.

One is Free State’s Taylor Manning, a junior forward who started on last year’s Firebirds team that took third place at the state tournament. The other is Taylor Bird, an all-Sunflower League selection a year ago as a sophomore who has emerged as the go-to player on this year’s Lions squad.

Other than an intense desire to compete and win, about the only thing these two Taylors share is their middle name – Elizabeth.

“We’re both competitive, we both like to win,” Manning said. “But other than that, I think we are different players. I’m not that aggressive. They have to tell me to shoot.”

Not so for Taylor Bird.

Bird began shooting the rock at the age of 5, when her dad spent day after day with her shooting and rebounding the basketball. The countless hours around the rim turned Bird into a natural playmaker, the type of player who’s more comfortable with the ball in her hands than without.

“My dad always said he never had to worry about me shooting the ball,” Bird said with her signature smile. “He basically just worried about me shooting too much.”

As time has gone by, most of Bird’s coaches have encouraged her to do just that. In just her first year of varsity basketball, she was one of the Lions’ leading scorers and often found herself called upon by teammates when a big bucket was needed.

Such circumstances surfaced as early as fifth grade, when Bird and Manning played together as teammates with the Flames. Their friendship has evolved since then and today they, perhaps better than any two athletes in the city, illustrate what the rivalry between Lawrence High and Free State is all about.

“The biggest thing about the two of them is they have respect for each other, as well,” LHS coach Kristin Mallory said. “You should want to beat your friends more than anyone else. They each love sports, they love to compete, and they usually do it with a smile.”

Manning’s path to this point has followed a different road. A diehard volleyball player first, Manning has seen her athleticism and drive transfer over to the hardwood. But instead of taking charge and playing with the same ferocious style she unleashes on the volleyball court, Manning is happy to defer to teammates.

“I know I’m one of the leaders now instead of being a sophomore,” Manning said. “And I think I’m getting closer to just going out and shooting it. But my main thing is I want to make my teammates better. I think I’m just that way. I love to help people.”

Free State coach Bryan Duncan said the difference between the two Taylors shows up loud and clear on the court.

“Basketball is fun for Taylor Manning,” Duncan said. “That’s one of the things I love most about her. She really just has fun playing the game. But for Taylor Bird, basketball is her passion.”

The coaches call it passion or intensity. Bird has a different assessment.

“Off the court and on the court, I’m kind of a different person,” she said. “I’m kind of mean on the court.”

That last part, “on the court,” brings with it one of the few comparisons between the two players. They also both call pink their favorite color.

Although Manning tends to be more passive and prefers to stay away from heavy contact, she can flip the switch when needed.

“I can be (mean) as soon as someone upsets me,” Manning said.

So what if Thursday’s game comes down to the final play, with the two longtime friends locked up in the open floor and time winding down?

“I’d probably do a spin move on her and try to get to the basket,” Bird said.

No surprise.

Manning’s answer shows that even with her tendency to lean toward the soft side, she’s likely to find a way to rise to the occasion when bragging rights are on the line.

“I’d obviously try to block it,” Manning said.

Free State sophomore Ashli Hill, who has played with both players and is likely to play a large role of her own in Thursday’s contest, might have delivered the most likely option.

“Knowing (Manning), I think she would take a charge,” Hill said.