Division 5 | Region 18 | District Finals Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Division 5 this year is stacked with talent and should come with some great matchups down the road. These great matchups start in the district finals for Region 18. All games are on Saturday, March 1st. 4:30 pm Columbus Academy takes on Fairbanks at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=800,Martinsburg,Rd.,Mount,Vernon,43050" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mount Vernon</a> followed by 7 pm Africentric vs Bishop Ready. 7 pm at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=5200,COUNTY,ROAD,13,KANSAS,44841-9617" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lakota HS</a> Margetta plays Genoa and then Liberty Center plays Archbold at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=701,BRIARHEATH,DR,NAPOLEON,43545-1297" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Napoleon</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saturday 4:30 pm – 2. Columbus Academy vs 4. Fairbanks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2743391,"width":"305px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/Jason-Singleton-G21.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/Jason-Singleton-G21.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2743391" style="width:305px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Columbus Academy</strong> is one of the few teams in the state that have not lost this season. They had a top 5-point<a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894062230628659541/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> differential</a> throughout the regular season along with being top 3 in <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894061091635781743/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fewest points allowed</a> according to Martin RPI. This team is one of the best teams in the state. They are led by the top 10 junior in the state [player_tooltip player_id='2426114' first='Jason' last='Singleton']. He has been phenomenal this year and putting the team on his back in a lot of ways and they are undefeated. They have some good size and length beyond him with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2532398' first='Caden' last='Ivery'] and senior [player_tooltip player_id='2213494' first='Anderson' last='Davis']. Then Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2082034' first='Theo' last='Falkenhain'] is a nice scoring guard who can create for himself. This team has the size and weapons to beat you.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2794532,"width":"285px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media","align":"left"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/Holtz-Maine-G20.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/Holtz-Maine-G20.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2794532" style="width:285px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fairbanks </strong>come into this one with a 23-1 record so expect both of these teams to expect to win this one. Fairbanks has been great this season. They are 2nd in <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894061091635781743/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fewest points</a> allowed and 6th in <a href="https://x.com/MartinRPI/status/1894062230628659541/photo/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">point differential</a> in games this year according to Martin RPI. This is a senior lead team and Holtz Maine is the head of the dragon. Their 5 seniors in the district semifinals win over Harvest Prep combined for 50 of their 59 points. A senior-led team is scary. They have played with each other for a while, most times since 1st grade, and this leads to a lot of experience and motivation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saturday 7 pm – 1. Africentric vs 3. Bishop Ready</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2759033,"width":"232px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/Karamee-Wilkson-G29.2.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/Karamee-Wilkson-G29.2.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2759033" style="width:232px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Africentric </strong>is the 1 seed in the central district because of their 22-2 record. This is a team with depth and different players that can win games for them. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2459115' first='Rohaun' last='Hardy'] is a nice athlete who slashes to the rim well but is a smart basketball player. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2677141' first='Joshua' last='Smith'] does the small things for them to help win – rebounding, defense, and high motor. [player_tooltip player_id='2209610' first='Kamaree' last='Wilkinson'] is a long point guard who can score and shoot the lights out of the gym. [player_tooltip player_id='2459113' first='Derron' last='Gray Jr'] has been really good for them this season. He is another big-body scoring option. A tough team to stop because they can score with a lot of different players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bishop Ready </strong>has a 21-3 record and has some good experience on this squad. This is led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='1954721' first='Kayden' last='Schaffer'] who has been a varsity player for his whole high school career. He is a score-first guy that can do it from inside and out. He does it in a multitude of ways. Then sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2125756' first='Michael' last='Daniels'] has been a good key contributor to their success this year. He has been a nice scorer for them this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saturday 7 pm – 1. Margetta vs 2. Genoa</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2693079,"width":"279px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/ju.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/ju.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2693079" style="width:279px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Margetta </strong>comes into this game as the highest seed in the northwest with a 23-1 record. [player_tooltip player_id='1827697' first='Julian' last='Washington'] is the leader of this team and can do it in any way you think. He is ranked 5th in the state for the 2026 class and has good reason. He is long, athletic, and elite in a ton of different ways. He is an elite defender, passer, and scorer. He has added playmaking and shooting at a high efficiency into his bag this year. Washington is also a high-level competitor. His running mate [player_tooltip player_id='1950589' first='Judah' last='Keller'] brings an aggressive scorer for the Polar Bears. He is a strong player that gets to his spots on the floor and makes shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Genoa </strong>has a 19-5 record and coming into this with a big-time win over Liberty-Benton. The comets are led by juniors Walter Plantz and Ryan Houston. Plantz is a freak player who is a walking mismatch for other teams. He is tough to match up with size and athletically wise for most teams. He averaged a double-double this season. &nbsp;Rouston is a player that can shoot the laces off the ball. He will be a big-time impact player in this match-up if they want to continue this Cinderella run. [player_tooltip player_id='2381503' first='Jake' last='Woollard'] has been having a nice season along with [player_tooltip player_id='2446517' first='Myles' last='Mollenhauer']. This team is dangerous and must be taken seriously because if not they will beat you.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saturday 7 pm – 5. Liberty Center vs 6. Archbold</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Liberty Center </strong>has a 9-12 record coming into this game but is better than their record states. They are a senior lead team and are led by Gavin Geahlen. He is a tough-nosed player who does a lot of his damage around the rim. He gets boards and does his damage around the rim. Seniors Grady Miller and Camden Robinson help tag in with tough play and high motors. They can get buckets on their own as well. Both were all-conference honorable mentions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Archbold</strong> record this year is 12-10 record and a 5-point win against Liberty Center earlier this season. When you think about Archbold you think about the culture they have. They are a tough team that plays together. They will come out and see if you are tougher or more together than them, if you are not then you will lose. Senior Micah Nofziger is the head of the snake for this team, but fellow seniors Sonny Phillips and Evan Wendt bring experience and toughness to the team. I think this game will be an absolute slugfest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->