Eight teams received an opportunity to punch their tickets to the district finals in Division III on Tuesday. Let's take a look at the action across the area.

WESTERVILLE, Ohio - They key for Northmor coming into Tuesday's Division III district semifinal against Africentric would be the Golden Knights' ability to handle the swarming pressure of the Nubians.

Unfortunately for the KMAC champs, No. 5 Northmor (23-2) couldn't deal with that very pressure of the Nubians, as No. 2 Africentric (18-6) used an 18-5 first quarter to roll to a 68-49 victory.

Jumping out to a 13-1 run in the first six and a half minutes, Africentric held Northmor to just one shot attempt, while forcing the Golden Knights into seven turnovers. Northmor climbed to 15-5, however a three-point field goal from Lyheem Hilliard at the buzzer halted any momentum from the Knights.

The reigning Division III District Player of the Year, Africentric senior Tre Baumgardner surely played like it, as his big first half, which included 10 points and four steals, was the difference for the Nubians. The key cog in Africentric's pressure defense, Baumgardner had his handprints all over Tuesday's game.

Going into halftime with a 29-17 lead, Africentric controlled Northmor for the entire half. However, 11 first half points from senior guard Brock Pletcher had Northmor feeling a bit of confidence coming out of the break.

Despite an absolutely awful start that included 12 turnovers, Northmor still found itself only down 12 points, which was encouraging as the Golden Knights would receive senior guard Meechie Johnson for the next 16 minutes after sitting out most of the second quarter with three fouls.

That hope was short lived, as Africentric sophomore Cali Davis erupted in the third quarter. Knocking down three triples in a span of five and a half minutes, Davis helped Africentric open up a lead that stretched to as much as 23 points in the period.

A three from Baumgardner, which was the Nubians' fifth of the period, put Africentric ahead 51-30 going into the final frame.

Leading by 20+ points for the majority of the fourth quarter, Africentric wrapped up Tuesday's district semifinal in fashion. Advancing to the district finals for a staggering eighth-straight season, Africentric put away a senior Northmor team in impressive fashion in front of a heavy Golden Knight crowd.

Baumgardner dominated the game, finishing with 22 points, seven rebounds, five assists and five steals. Controlling both ends of the floor, the Minnesota State signee was terrific in all facets of the game, knocking down two triples and getting to the line and rim at will. Getting into the passing lanes all game long, Baumgardner was by far the top player on the floor and the key difference in the win.

Davis finished his breakout game with 15 points, with his three important triples coming in the third quarter. A big-time shooter who seemed to be in a funk for most of the regular season, Davis could be due for another major performance in the next round.

In a matchup with Northmor's twin towers of Tyler Kegley and Kyle Kegley, Africentric senior center Jah Bennett got the best of the two, finishing with 10 points, seven rebounds and three emphatic blocks. Bennett's shot-blocking presence at the rim disrupted what Northmor was looking to do at the rim, while he limited any type of second chance opportunities for the Golden Knights on the offensive glass.

Junior forward Dorian Holloway and senior guard James Hodge added eight and six points respectively, as Africentric's starting lineup combined for 61 points on Tuesday.

Advancing to take on No. 9 Johnstown, who upset No. 4 Wellington on Tuesday, Africentric will go back to its bread and butter in the district finals on Friday. Pressure will be the key once again, as Africentric has a unique ability to speed teams up and make them uncomfortable. 

That pressure, combined with Africentric's ability to knock down perimeter shots make this team very difficult to stop. 

For Northmor, Pletcher was the only consistent scorer against a sturdy Africentric defense, knocking down three triples and scoring 19 points. Pulling from anywhere on the floor, Pletcher seemed to be the only player who was not rattled at any point in the game.

Johnson added nine points, but missed a large chunk of action due to foul trouble. Africentric's quick guards seemed to speed Johnson up, as the Nubians forced him to over penetrate, which resulted into a number of turnovers.

Tyler Kegley added six points, four rebounds and three blocks, while Kyle Kegley finished with five points, nine rebounds and three assists. Going up against the biggest and most physical front line that they've seen all year, the Kegley's had their moments on Tuesday.

Sophomore forward Blake Miller finished with three points, while senior forward Lane Bachelder added four points late.

Finishing an historic season at 23-2, Northmor has nothing to hang their heads about, as this group of seniors took the program to new heights and dominated the KMAC in the process. 

OBETZ, Ohio -- Keyed by the play of seniors Brady Thomas and Chanc Dawson, Bishop Ready led the whole way Tuesday night versus Columbus Academy, advancing to Friday’s district final with a 64-56 win. The two seniors were the difference, combining for 45 points in total.

Thomas was able to lock in early for the Knights, hitting a nice step-back three and then assisting on a bucket to senior big man Dominic Mattox with 3:07 remaining in the first. Going back and forth early in the second quarter with Columbus Academy guard Dorrian Moultrie, it was evident that Thomas was willing to do whatever to it took to survive and advance.

The turning point of the game came before the half, as Ready went on a 6-0 run to close the second quarter. Junior big man Cade Canter found Thomas open for a big three, helping the Knights extend the margin to 31-19 as the teams went to the locker room.

Columbus Academy came out of the gates firing in the second half, when two quick baskets in the lane from Moultrie began to give the Vikings some momentum. As soon as the Vikings began to gain some second half energy, Dawson stepped up to help save the day for the Knights. Dawson had a strong take with 4:45 remaining in the quarter for an and-one, and then got back to the line a few possessions later and knocked down two more.

A technical foul on Columbus Academy sent Dawson to the line yet again. The senior knocked down both, and that pushed the Silver Knights lead to 13 with 1:38 left in the third quarter.

Columbus Academy gained some fourth quarter momentum, cutting the margin to six at one point, but Bishop Ready freshman forward Darius Parham had other plans. Converting an and-one off of a strip steal, Parham gave Bishop Ready a comfortable nine-point lead with 3:54 remaining.

In the end for Ready, Thomas finished with a game-high 23 points, and Dawson finished with 22. Dawson's big performance helped him eclipse 1,000 points for his career on Tuesday. Parham chipped in with seven points off the bench, and junior guard Jaishan Norris finished with six. The Knights will advance to play Harvest Prep in the Division III district final on Friday at Ohio Dominican.

As for the Vikings, Moultrie led the scoring attack with 20 points, junior Chris Boyle chimed in with 12, and senior forward Addis Boyd tallied a double-double, with 10 points and 12 rebounds. The Vikings have some serious pieces for the 2018-19 season returning, and will look to bounce back and compete with the best in Division III yet again.

- Jake Spegal (@jakespegal)

Sophomore guard CJ Anthony and senior forward CJ Penha combined for 40 points, with Anthony's 24 being a game high as Harvest Prep rolled over Pleasant, 71-49.

In a rematch of Harvest Prep's regular season finale in which Pleasant gave the Warriors a scare in a tight contest, that was not the case on Tuesday.

Harvest Prep advances to the district finals to take on No. 3 Bishop Ready on Friday at 8:30 p.m. at Ohio Dominican. 

The Cinderellas of the Division III tournament, No. 9 Johnstown upset No. 4 Wellington, 59-57. Blowing a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, Johnstown hung on tight late, as two free throws from junior forward Owen Hazelbaker with seven seconds remaining delivered the win for the Johnnies.

Hazelbaker led the charge with 20 points, as the 6-foot-7 forward was the difference on the interior. Joined in double figures by senior guard Carson Carter, who scored 19 points, and freshman forward Jake Lusk, who scored 15 points, the aforementioned trio was big-time down the stretch for Johnstown.

Wellington was led by junior guard Dallas Patrick, who finished with a game-high 23 points. Senior guard Bob Faller was the only other Jaguar player in double figures with 14 points.

Advancing to take on a tough and gritty Africentric team, Johnstown will get a test of its mental strength and ball handling abilities. Being blitzed by Columbus South earlier in December, Johnstown mightily struggled to handle the Bulldogs' pressure. Johnstown will get that and then some in the next round against a Nubians team hungry to cut down another pair of nets.