COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Friday was Tre Baumgardner's night. In a showdown for the Division III district championship, Baumgardner saved his career best performance for the biggest game yet.

Going for 33 points, Baumgardner led Africentric (19-6) over Johnstown (16-8, 59-43, for its sixth district title in the last eight years. 

Exploding for 22 first half points, Baumgardner sparked a 25-11 second quarter that blew the game open for Africentric.

While Johnstown hung around for the first eight minutes, going into the second quarter trailing 10-8, the Johnnies had no idea of what was coming next.

The key coming into this game for the Johnnies was its ability to handle Africentric's pressure. As Johnstown did a solid job of that in the opening quarter, the wheels fell off for the Johnnies in the second period.

Going on a 19-9 run in the next five minutes, Africentric transformed what was once a four point game into a 35-19 advantage at the break. 

Johnstown competed as hard as possible in the second half, as both teams scored 24 points after halftime, but it was Baumgardner who was the difference.

Knocking down three triples in the second half, Baumgardner tied his previous career-high of 30 points with three minutes to go in the third. Halting any type of Johnstown run, Baumgardner's last triple put the Nubians ahead 54-34 with 4:57 to go and gave him 33 on the night. 

Winning its sixth district title in the last eight years, Africentric captures its first in the Division III ranks since 2011. Baumgardner was the impossible matchup for Johnstown when it seemed early on that the Johnnies would be able to compete for a full game.

The Minnesota State signee was the only Nubian in double figures, as senior center Jah Bennett added nine points and sophomore guard Cali Davis pitched in six. Baumgardner's big night kept Johnstown at a distance, as the senior scored 22 of his team's 35 points in the first half and 11 of its 24 points in the second.

Africentric advances to the Bowling Green regional where it will take on the winner of Carey and Margaretta on March 14 at Bowling Green State University at 6:15 p.m. A potential matchup against top-seeded Ottawa-Glandorf could await in the regional final for the Nubians.

For Johnstown, a Cinderella run ends in the district finals. Winning two tough games away from home to get to this point, the Johnnies have nothing to hang their heads about. 

Freshman forward Jake Lusk played a terrific game, finishing with 12 points and six rebounds. Competing physically and scoring a few tough buckets at the rim, Lusk helped the Johnnies secure a 21-19 advantage on the glass.

Junior forward Owen Hazelbaker added 10 points and nine rebounds, but would foul out with just a few minutes to go. The hero of its sectional final win at Grandview Heights, senior guard Carson Carter added nine points in his final game for Johnstown. 

Returning its top option in Hazelbaker and promising freshmen in Lusk and Gavin Foe, Johnstown will be one of Division III's best once again next season.