Photo/KYLE LUTZ MARTINS FERRY’S Maria Clark goes up for a shot during Tuesday’s game at Wheeling Central.

WHEELING — Winners of four games over the last six days, Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Class 4A leading Martins Ferry’s girls’ basketball team is playing its best basketball at the right time of the year.

Tuesday night Coach Dave Reasbeck’s Purple Riders traveled across the bridge and dominated an injury-riddled, state-ranked Wheeling Central squad at its East Wheeling gym.

Senior guards Shayla Schuster and Maddie Ging helped force 33 Maroon Knight turnovers while four players hit double-figures in the scoring column and Ferry used a 19-0 first half run to take control on its way to a 69-52 victory on Coach Skip Prosser Court, spoiling Central’s Senior Night festivities.

“I wouldn’t say we played great (Tuesday), but this was our fourth game in six days, all against respectable programs and all by nice margins so I really can’t complain,” Reasbeck said with a smile. “I also feel for them missing two great players, but I have been in that situation before and know how they feel.”

While Maroon Knights’ senior Hannah White was able to go, scoring a game-high 23 points on an injured hip, her remaining two classmates, all-staters Eden Gainer and Kaylee Reinbeau both sat out the contest with injuries.

After Tristan White gave the hosts an early lead with the first basket of the contest the Purple Riders (14-6) scored 12 of the next 14 points to seemingly take control. Central, however, rattled off seven in a row, with Marissa Horan scoring the final four to trim the deficit to 12-11.

That was when things feel apart for the Knights, who went into an 8:29 scoring drought with Martins Ferry scoring the final four of the first quarter off of turnovers then putting up the ensuing 15 points of the second quarter to extend the lead to 31-11 with 3:31 showing in the first half.

The hosts did manage to score the final five tallies of the half to cut the margin to 35-20 heading to the break.

Central (9-10) could get no closer than 13 in the third quarter, thanks in large part to 10 more miscues, as the visitors led 50-33 with eight minutes to play. Senior Richella Spielvogel shared team honors with 16 points, scoring nine of those in the fourth quarter, while battling foul trouble all night long.

Hannah White also had a big frame for the Knights, scoring 13 of her 23. The Purple Riders extended the lead to as many as 21 over the final eight minutes while the Maroon Knights was not able to get any closer than 15.

“My two guards, Schuster and Ging, both went out and were able to do what they do, and we need them to keep doing it,” Reasbeck said. “It’s getting real now and we have a lot to look forward too.

“We just won at Steubenville (Monday) and this is another big win for us on the road at a gym that is tough to play in. The White girls (Hannah) did a great job for them also, even though she was banged up.”

Ging also tallied 16 for Martins Ferry while Jaden Stalder chipped in 14 and Maria Clark added 10. The Purple Riders grabbed a slim 27-25 edge off the glass but had 11 fewer turnovers (22) than their hosts. Hannah White was Central’s only double-figure scorer on the night while Tristan White added eight.

“It really felt like we had more turnovers than that (33),” Central Head Coach Penn Kurtz said. “But we battled back a little in the first quarter and then turn the ball over a couple times to close it out.

“It’s tough when you have to throw freshmen out on the floor, but we have to take better care of the basketball no matter who is out there. We have to get better, if we don’t turn the ball over 33 times we might still at least be in the game.

“But it’s things we can fix. That’s where I really miss having all of my seniors on the floor because they can help settle everyone down. We still have a chance to get better, but we are not going to get much practice before traveling to Beallsville Thursday night.”

Both teams will also be back in action next Monday night with Martins Ferry hosting Oak Glen in the OVAC Class 4A tournament and Wheeling Central traveling to Shadyside to take on the Tigers in the Class 2A event.