New reign in Class A: Magnolia captures basketball title over Wheeling Central

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Magnolia won its first basketball state title since 2003, holding off defending Class A champ Wheeling Central 51-46 on Saturday at the Charleston Civic Center.

Preston Boswell finished with 22 points for the Blue Eagles (23-5), who are celebrating their 100th year of basketball in championship fashion.

“What a time to win the fourth state championship overall,” said Magnolia coach Dave Tallman. “Wheeling Central and coach Mel Stephens is a class act. I thought our defense today was tougher than theirs and I thought we got to most of the 50-50 balls. We also really did a nice job on the boards.”

Wheeling Central ended its season 24-4 overall, but only 1-3 against Magnolia.

The Maroon Knights had a chance to tie trailing 49-46 and 22.8 seconds to go, ran a ball-screen for Chase Harler with an option for Boyd Bibey on the outside. But Harler tried to get the quick two and his contested layup didn’t fall.

“We told our guys to be really aggressive and I didn’t even want (Harler) to get a shot, because we had two fouls to give,” Tallman said. “Harler didn’t get the 3, so we covered that well and he missed the shot.”

MORE: Highlights of Magnolia’s Class A championship

Magnolia’s Spencer Campbell, who scored 13 points, came up with the rebound and followed with two free throws to secure the win.

“It’s all about muscle memory and being in rhythm,” Campbell said of the two high-pressure free throws. “I just didn’t even think about the situation. I just knocked them down.”

For the second straight game, Magnolia found itself in an 8-0 hole early. Just like Friday’s semifinal win over Greater Beckley Christian, the Blue Eagles quickly responded to eventually take the lead.

“That might be a little bit of nerves,” Tallman said. “Five of our top six players are juniors. Spencer (Campbell) is the lone senior. It’s really enjoyable to coach guys like this. There was never panic in their eyes. I have to give them a lot of credit for that. We had a slow start, but we’re real fortunate to come back on a team like that, it’s really amazing.”

A Boswell 3 gave Magnolia a 15-13 lead at the 6:51 mark of the second quarter. The Blue Eagles closed out the first half on a 13-2 run to take a 30-21 lead.

Derrick Blain capped off the run with a last second 3 as time expired. Boswell scored 16 points in the first half to lead the Blue Eagles, while no Wheeling Central player had more than four points apiece in the opening stanza.

Magnolia extended its lead out to 12, 35-23, at the 5:49 mark of the third quarter. The Maroon Knights cut that deficit in half entering the fourth quarter, 42-36. A John Burkhalter 3 closed Central to 44-42 with 7:08 to go – the Maroon Knights drew to within a point, 47-46, at the 3:20 mark following a Harler put-back.

Boswell finished  7-of-19 shooting to lead the Blue Eagles. Mitch Winters just missed a double-double, posting nine points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

Boswell finished as the leading scorer in the Class A tournament, with 65 points in three games. Harler totaled 55.

“I don’t really care if I led the tournament in scoring, to be honest,” Boswell said. “I’m just glad we won. If I led in scoring, Mitch’s rebounds (were just as important).”

Winters finished tournament play as the leading rebounder also, collecting 34 boards in three games.

Harler and Burkhalter scored 10 points apiece for Central, while Trenton Smith scored 11 to lead the Maroon Knights.

“They ended up being the best team,” said Wheeling Central coach Mel Stephens. “Congratulations to Magnolia. They played really well and made plays when they had to.”

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