Lawrence High junior E'lease Stafford (40) drives against Emporia's Kelsey Gordon (12) on Friday, Dec. 4, 2015, at Emporia.

Lawrence High and Free State girls basketball teams both insist the City Showdown is just another game on the schedule.

Of course, there’s the packed crowd and the bragging rights. But a loss won’t end a season or take away a school’s chances at a league title.

Instead, both teams are preparing for their matchup at 5:30 p.m. Friday at LHS like all of their previous games.

“I look forward to it,” LHS junior guard Skylar Drum said, “but it’s just another game that you want to win.”

After a 19-point loss to Shawnee Heights last week, the Lions (3-2) have rebounded with some of their strongest performances of the season. The Lions won games against Topeka West and Kansas City (Kansas) Wyandotte earlier this week, forcing a running clock in the second half in both games.

But Free State (3-0, ranked No. 3 in Class 6A) will be among the toughest teams the Lions have faced this season, featuring junior wing Madison Piper, last year’s Sunflower League Player of the Year, who is averaging 22.7 points per game.

“They’ve got a program that’s been exceptionally good for a long time,” LHS coach Jeff Dickson said. “In that respect, we’ve got our work cut out for us. We played a similar team in Shawnee Heights that has a Div. I player that’s really, really good. We’ve been building up to play that kind of competition.”

The Firebirds have won the past 12 games against their crosstown rival, dating back to 2009. Players from both schools are aware of the streak but try to avoid thinking too much about it.

“I think for the team, just the hype gets everybody nervous,” LHS senior guard Emma Bentzinger said. “So that’s the toughest part. We have to get over that.”

FSHS junior guard Jaycie Bishop added: “We know we have won in the past, but we know they have improved a lot over the years. We are excited to play a competitive game. I hope it it’ll be close, and I hope it’ll be a lot of competition.”

The Firebirds earned a 55-46 comeback victory against Mill Valley last week and have used their talented set of guards — Bishop, Cameryn Thomas, Caiti Schlesener, Hannah Walter and Jaelyn Two Hearts, along with forwards Piper and Peyton Brown — to play an up-tempo pace on both ends of the court.

“We’re able to pressure a lot more and rely on help defense,” Bishop said. “We’re a very quick team, so we’re able to pressure the ball, pressure off of the ball. It really helps.”

The Lions have a young lineup, including several freshmen who will be a part of their first rivalry game. Sophomore E’lease Stafford leads the team in scoring.

Though both schools don’t want to put extra emphasis on the rivalry game, they are aiming to head into winter break on a high note.

“We’re a lot better than we have been,” Bentzinger said. “It’ll be great.”