Fairfax boys basketball upsets No. 1 seed Birmingham in City playoffs

The underdog Fairfax team took down the top-ranked Birmingham squad in the City Section Open Division playoffs.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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In a surprising turn of events, the Fairfax boys basketball team defeated the heavily favored Birmingham squad in the City Section Open Division playoffs. Birmingham had been the No. 1 seed going into the postseason, but Fairfax was able to pull off the upset victory in the matchup.

Why it matters

This win for Fairfax is a major upset in the City Section playoffs, as Birmingham was widely expected to make a deep run as the top seed. The victory showcases Fairfax's ability to compete with and defeat elite teams, and sets them up as a potential contender for the City championship.

The details

The game was a close battle, with Birmingham player Christian Graham blocking a shot from Fairfax's Domonic Bowie Jr. during the contest. Birmingham's Andrew Berry was able to recover a rebound, but ultimately Fairfax emerged victorious over the heavily favored Birmingham squad.

  • The game took place on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 in Van Nuys.

The players

Christian Graham

A player for the Birmingham team.

Domonic Bowie Jr.

A player for the Fairfax team.

Andrew Berry

A player for the Birmingham team.

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What’s next

The winner of the Fairfax-Birmingham matchup will advance to the next round of the City Section Open Division playoffs.

The takeaway

Fairfax's upset victory over the top-seeded Birmingham squad demonstrates the unpredictability of the playoffs and the ability of underdog teams to pull off surprising wins against heavily favored opponents.