Photo by Nick Henthorn Monroe Central’s Corbin Farnsworth drives to the basket on Tuesday during the Seminoles’ road game against the Wheeling Central Maroon Knights. Farnsworth led Monroe Central with 18 points in the game.

WHEELING — It was defending champs vs. defending champs on Tuesday as the reigning WVSSAC Class AA champion Wheeling Central Maroon Knights hosted the OHSAA Division VI champion Monroe Central Seminoles on Tuesday on Coach Skip Prosser Court. With both teams entering undefeated, the Maroon Knights were able to use a lopsided second quarter to secure an 89-60 victory.

After a deadlocked first quarter, the Maroon Knights led 17-15. Monroe Central’s Blake Yontz hit a 3-pointer to open the second quarter, and gave the ‘Noles the lead. Both teams exchanged baskets, and the scoreboard read 20-20 early in the quarter.

Wheeling Central proceeded on a 21-1 run throughout the rest of the period to lead 41-21 at halftime and put themselves in the driver’s seat the rest of the way.

“We knew this was gonna be a tough game for us coming in here,” Monroe Central head coach Mason Lang said. “They’re a great team, probably the best team in the Valley, one of the best teams we’ll see all year. Definitely the best player we’ll probably see all year. He went out there and he played really well. I’m just proud of our boys. I think we had a five-minute spell there where we relaxed a little bit more than we should have.

“We had a five-minute spell where we didn’t play with the intensity or with the competitiveness that is the standard of the program and the game got out of hand at that point. I think from that point on, we fought, and I think early, we fought.”

The player in question for Wheeling Central was Eli Sancomb, who has somehow managed to start his senior season with marked improvement from a junior year that already saw him secure the Evans Award as the WVSWA Player of the Year. Sancomb was averaging over 30 points and nearly 10 rebounds and 10 assists per-game entering Tuesday, and went off for 33 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists against Monroe Central.

“That’s kind of normal for him right now,” Wheeling Central head coach Mel Stephens said. “When he doesn’t get that, it’s kind of out of the ordinary. You know he’s gonna score. He is just very good at it. But if he rebounds the ball- and he is very good at sharing the ball– it makes the other guys on our team so much better and makes us tougher to defend.

“As long as he keeps playing the right way we can have some off nights somewhere along the line maybe and still be able to squeak out some wins.”

Sancomb scored seven straight points midway through the second quarter and followed that up with a slick assist to Max Olejasz to put Central ahead 32-21 with 3:37 to play in the second. While the Maroon caught fire on offense, there was a lid on the hoop on the other end, where Monroe Central couldn’t hit despite finding good looks along the perimeter.

“That second quarter, there was a moment, I think we had the lead at one point in the second quarter, very early on, and then [Wheeling Central] did what great teams do,” Lang said. “They came down, they answered, they scored, they went on a run, did everything that we expected them to do because they are a great team, really well-coached.

“I felt near the end of that run, we kind of let our standards slip away a little bit and that’s where the game got away. You go into halftime down 10 or 12, you feel a lot better than down 20.”

Olejasz and Luke Sancomb each scored seven points in the second quarter, as did Eli Sancomb.

“I think we just started taking advantage of some things, as far as Eli being able to get to the rim, and when they helped, you know, he was able to share the ball to Max or Steven [Brodegard] or whoever was open,” Stephens said. “We made a nice run. But, you know, we challenged them at halftime because we were able to make that run, and our thing was to come out, start the third quarter and extend that run. Not let up, not make a couple bad decisions on the offensive end, miss a couple assignments on a defensive end where you let them back into the game.

“I thought we did that. I told them at the end of the third quarter, you know, that’s what we said. We went from a 20 point lead to a 30 point lead, which was huge.”

After Sancomb’s 33, Nico Kusic followed with 18 points, also pilfering six steals. Kusic was aggressive going to the rim Tuesday.

“I think he understood, when he felt like he had a mismatch on him, he was able to drive the ball and either get to the rim and score, or at least get to the foul line, which is big for us,” Stephens said. “I mean, the more points we can get from other guys besides Eli, I think the better it is for us.”

Luke Sancomb scored 16 for Central, knocking down four 3-pointers, while Olejasz finished with 12.

Monroe Central was led by Corbin Farnsworth’s 18 points. Farnsworth also grabbed seven rebounds. Blake Yontz was close behind with 17. Max Demchak dished six assists.

Monroe Central was without junior point guard Cooper Howell, who suffered an injury during the Seminoles’ last game against Wheeling Park.

“Not having Cooper, that hurts,” Lang said. “Cooper’s a great player, he has been our point guard since he was a freshman. Not having him, it hurt, but it’s really no excuse. You know, it’s the next-man-up kind of mentality. We told the boys tonight, everybody just has to play 10, 15% better. That’s all we’re asking for. I’m still really proud of the way we played. I do think after halftime we answered pretty well, you know, and we played that second half the way I know we were capable of.”

Wheeling Central (7-0) remains at home for their next game Friday against Williamstown. Monroe Central (10-1) returns home for their next game against River, also on Friday.