Panthers to Play for District Title

Sixth-seeded Fairbanks Panthers to face No. 2 Columbus Africentric for Division V championship

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The sixth-seeded Fairbanks Panthers will travel to Mount Vernon Nazarene University today to face the No. 2 Columbus Africentric team in the Division V district championship game. The Panthers handed the No. 4 Fredericktown Freddies their only loss of the 2025-2026 season to advance to the title game.

Why it matters

The Panthers' unexpected run to the district final is a Cinderella story, as they were the lower-seeded team that knocked off a higher-ranked opponent to earn a spot in the championship game. This matchup will determine which team advances to the regional tournament.

The details

Fairbanks senior Ty Schroeder led the way for the Panthers in their upset win over Fredericktown earlier this week. The district title game will tip off at 7:15 p.m. today at Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

  • The district tournament game will be played today, March 9, 2026.
  • Fairbanks defeated Fredericktown earlier this week to advance to the district final.

The players

Ty Schroeder

A senior on the Fairbanks Panthers basketball team.

Fairbanks Panthers

The sixth-seeded high school basketball team that advanced to the Division V district championship game.

Columbus Africentric

The No. 2 seed that will face Fairbanks in the district title game.

Fredericktown Freddies

The No. 4 seed that was upset by Fairbanks in the previous round.

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What’s next

The winner of the district championship game between Fairbanks and Columbus Africentric will advance to the regional tournament.

The takeaway

The Fairbanks Panthers' unexpected run to the district final is an inspiring Cinderella story, showcasing the unpredictability and excitement of high school basketball playoffs.