COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Eight different tickets were punched to the district finals in Central Ohio on Tuesday. Let's take a look at all of the district semifinal action in the area.

#2 Buckeye Valley 43, #7 Heath 47

Heath advances to the district finals to take on No. 1 Beechcroft on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Ohio Dominican.

#1 Beechcroft 56, #10 DeSales 48

The grit and toughness of the Stallions was not enough to overcome 18 points and three blocks from District Player of the Year, senior Amani Lyles, as the Beechcroft Cougars moved on and advanced to the district finals. Despite the best efforts from the Stallions, the defensive intensity and shot making was too much for DeSales and they fell 56-48.

A slow start gave way to a 1-0 DeSales lead after three minutes of game play and a block each from dueling senior big men Atticus Schuler and Amani Lyles. The opening eight minutes featured some missed layups and great defense which led to an 8-5 DeSales lead after the first quarter.

The action picked up some in the second quarter as DeSales threatened to pull away after they gained a 14-7 advantage midway through. Beechcroft fought back into it and thanks to a
halftime buzzer beater from sophomore Dominique Wise they were able to take a 16-15 lead into the locker room.

Coming out of the half, the Cougars hit AMG mode and cruised on a 16-6 run that was spurred by seniors JJ Simmons and Amani Lyles to take a 32-20 lead with over three minutes in the third. The Stallions fought back behind the fabulous play of freshman PJ Noles who scored 10 of his 11 points in the quarter and got DeSales back to within four as the quarter closed and Beechcroft led 34-30.

Intensity was the name of the game in the final frame as both teams were determined to walk away with a win. DeSales got out to an early one-point 35-34 lead before Beechcroft regained the lead and never looked back. DeSales put on a valiant comeback effort in the final minute but made free throws from the Cougars was too much for the Stallions as Beechcroft advanced to the District Finals by a score of 56-48.

#3 Bloom-Carroll 45, #5 Jonathan Alder 38

Bloom-Carroll advances to the district finals to take on No. 4 Linden-McKinley on Thursday at 8:15 p.m. at Ohio Dominican.

#4 Linden-McKinley 47, #6 Bishop Watterson 38

Linden-McKinley advances to the district finals to take on No. 3 Bloom-Carroll on Thursday at 8:15 p.m. at Ohio Dominican.

#4 North Union 56, #7 Johnstown 37

North Union advances to the district finals to take on No. 3 Harvest Prep on Friday at 6 p.m. at Ohio Dominican. 

#3 Harvest Prep 62, #6 Columbus Academy 47

Harvest Prep advances to the district finals to take on No. 4 North Union on Friday at 6 p.m. at Ohio Dominican. 

#1 Africentric 74, #9 Elgin 47

Africentric advances to the district finals to take on No. 2 Bishop Ready on Friday at 8:30 p.m. at Ohio Dominican.

#2 Bishop Ready 55, #8 Worthington Christian 31

Bishop Ready advances to the district finals to take on No. 1 Africentric on Friday at 8:30 p.m. at Ohio Dominican.