This Sunday, high school basketball rivals Evanston Township High School and New Trier High School will work together to help tsunami victims.

Sunday’s game at Welsh-Ryan Arena marks a new chapter in the longtime ETHS-New Trier rivalry.

Proceeds from the game, which has almost sold out for the past four years, will be donated to the American Red Cross for tsunami relief.

“With over 200,000 dead and Lord knows how many thousands and thousands alive that were victimized by the earthquake and tsunami, it seemed like the right thing to do,” said New Trier athletic director Jim Bloch.

Proceeds from the rivals’ last face-off in December also went to the Red Cross for tsunami relief.

The high schools moved the big game to NU when they couldn’t handle the popularity of both varsity boys’ and girls’ games.

“It’s a very, very intense rivalry,” said ETHS athletic director Alec Anderson.

The rivalry is, in fact, one of the oldest in the state and has a giant following, said ETHS girls’ varsity coach Steve Wool.

In December’s game, the ETHS varsity girls won, but the varsity boys lost.

“The upcoming match should be another great game. The first game was very exciting,” Wool said. “Hopefully (the girls’ team) will repeat what we did in December and hopefully the boys’ team will get a win too.”

Though the Super Bowl will fall on the same Sunday, the athletic directors both said they hope it won’t affect attendance.

They scheduled the games so people will be able make it back to their TVs in time for the kickoff.

“Hats off to all those who decide to invest time and effort and ultimately their dollars to help the victims,” Bloch said.

Varsity girls will play at noon. Varsity boys will play at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for students.

— Kendra Marr