Birmingham Falls to Cornerstone Christian in Division III State Boys' Basketball Final

Patriots' underclassman-led team makes historic run to state championship game

Mar. 14, 2026 at 1:20am

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Birmingham High School's boys' basketball team, led by underclassmen, made an unexpected run to the Division III state championship game before falling 74-64 to Antioch Cornerstone Christian. Despite trailing by 21 points in the third quarter, the Patriots rallied late but ultimately came up short against Cornerstone Christian's strong guard play.

Why it matters

Birmingham's appearance in the state title game marks the furthest any boys' or girls' basketball team from the school has advanced, showcasing the program's growth and potential for the future. The Patriots' young roster suggests they could be a force to be reckoned with in the coming seasons.

The details

Birmingham, with every starter an underclassman, somehow found itself playing for a state championship after losing in the opening round of the City Section playoffs. They regrouped, refocused and won the Division III regional. On Friday, they never stopped battling, falling behind by 21 points in the third quarter before rallying to within seven points with 4:16 left. Cornerstone Christian had too much firepower at the guard position, with Benjamin Lukacs scoring 26 points while making 11 of 14 shots and Amari Woodard making four threes to finish with 12 points. James Perry had 16 points and eight rebounds. Junior Tekeio Phillips led Birmingham with 17 points and junior X'Zavion McKay contributed 16 points and nine rebounds.

  • The state championship game was played on Friday, March 13, 2026.

The players

Nick Halic

The veteran coach and 2001 Birmingham alumnus who led the Patriots to the state championship game.

Charles Eleri

A senior on the Birmingham High basketball team.

Benjamin Lukacs

A guard for Antioch Cornerstone Christian who scored 26 points in the championship game.

Amari Woodard

A guard for Antioch Cornerstone Christian who made four 3-pointers and finished with 12 points.

James Perry

A player for Antioch Cornerstone Christian who had 16 points and eight rebounds.

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What they’re saying

“I'm really proud of this group. This is the furthest any group from Birmingham has gone, boys or girls. Sometimes it takes steps to get where you're going.”

— Nick Halic, Head Coach, Birmingham High School

“I'm heartbroken for them. We can learn from this. We can be either defeated or motivated. I'm going to be motivated to do more. This is a great experience for us. I can't say enough how proud I am. We'll be back for sure.”

— Nick Halic, Head Coach, Birmingham High School

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Birmingham's unexpected run to the state championship game, despite their young roster, demonstrates the program's growth and potential for the future. The experience will serve as motivation for the Patriots to continue improving and make another championship push in the coming seasons.