CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Over two state tournament games, neither of Wheeling Central’s opponents have made a concerted effort to slow the tempo of the game and limit possessions.
That suits the Class AA No. 1 Maroon Knights just fine.
With reigning Bill Evans Award winner Eli Sancomb running the show, Central continues to excel offensively, and behind a 41-point, 10-assist effort from the senior southpaw, the Maroon Knights secured a spot in the Class AA title game with an 86-53 win over Wayne at the Charleston Coliseum.
“We like to get out and run,” Maroon Knights’ coach Mel Stephens said. “We tell these guys it starts with defensive rebounding. It’s tough to run transition stuff if you’re taking the ball out of the net all the time. We have some kids that can run and Eli has tremendous court vision to where if guys are out running and they’re open, he’s going to get them the ball. If we don’t get that, we can play the half court stuff, too.”
Central (22-0) will look to repeat as state champion against No. 2 Wyoming East in Saturday’s final.
In Tuesday’s quarterfinal round win over No. 8 Frankfort, the Maroon Knights rolled to a 95-56 victory behind 40-for-70 shooting with Sancomb recording a triple-double of 23 points, 16 assists and 13 rebounds, while 6-foot-6 teammate Max Olejasz scored 27 and made 13-of-15 shots.
It was a fairly similar script in the semifinal, which saw the Maroon Knights overcome a nine-point opening period from the Pioneers’ Colton Heck to build a 24-16 lead.
MetroNews broadcast interview with Wheeling Central’s Mel Stephens following their 86-53 win over Wayne in the Class AA semifinals: #wvprepbb pic.twitter.com/ejSslOkQqj
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Sancomb accounted for 19 first-quarter points, made 7-of-10 shots and set the tone in letting Wayne (16-10) know there was no answer for him.
“Just trying to make the right plays at all times. If it’s passing, scoring or rebounding, whatever it is to help my team win, I’m all in,” Sancomb said.
By halftime, Sancomb was up to 23 points and Heck was at 19, but Central was on top 46-31 on the strength of its 17-for-24 shooting.
“He was using his athletic ability like he’s done all season, trying to get to the rim,” Wayne coach Sean Meddings said. “We noticed early they couldn’t guard him. It was about like us with Eli. We couldn’t guard him either. Two athletes battling it out. He’s our senior for a reason. He put it on his shoulders to go do it.”
Luke Sancomb had contributed six points on two three-pointers and Olejasz was 4 for 8 with 8 points.
“Eli did a good job of penetrating and either scoring or being able to dump it down or kick it out,” Stephens said.
Any thought of Stephens’ team letting up vanished early into the second half, and the Maroon Knights made 8-of-13 field-goal attempts in the third quarter to seize complete control and build a 73-43 lead through three frames.
Sancomb accounted for 18 of his team’s 27 points in the third to leave him with 41 and nine off the state tournament record. He played 2:05 of the fourth and did not attempt a shot, finishing 12 for 20 from the field and 17 for 20 on free throws, while adding six rebounds.
“They said something after the game about him being close. He puts nothing into that,” Stephens said. “He’s going to do whatever it takes for us to win whether it’s score, assist or rebound. if he would’ve known he was close, it wouldn’t have mattered. If it was time for him to come out, he’d have come out. Those records are nice on paper, but those guys want to win a state championship.”
Olejasz scored 19 and made 9-of-10 shots, leaving him 22 for 25 from the field to this point in Charleston.
Central shot 28 for 47 and made 25-of-29 free throws.
Heck led Wayne with 29 points but was the team’s only double-figure scorer.
“I told them before the game the most physical team will win,” Meddings said. “You have to be physical, but that’s probably why we had so many fouls called (24). Wheeling Central is a great team. Tomorrow’s championship game is probably going to be epic.”