WHEELING — The Maroon Knights capped off the West Virginia State Hockey Championships by defeating the Martinsburg-based Vipers, 5-3, Sunday morning at WesBanco Arena.

The victory gave the Knights the third-place trophy. It came on the heels of a loss to Morgantown in the semifinal on Saturday.

Central found itself down 2-1 in the early stages of the second period, but senior Bode Burge knotted the game at two when he scored an unassisted goal off a faceoff. He went top shelf with a rocket shot past the Viper goaltender.

A little less than five minutes later, the Knights regained the lead. Isaac Tiu got free on a breakaway, got the goalie on his heels and flipped the puck into the back of the net. The assists were credited to Hunter Kinkade and Grady Mullin.

The Vipers tied the game at three with 1:13 to play in the second, but the momentum was short-lived. Burge, who was named the game’s MVP, recorded his second unassisted goal of the period, putting the Maroon Knights on top for good.

Central added an insurance goal in the third when Maddox Ochap lit the lamp at the 8:02 mark. The Brothers Mullin — Grady and Owen — were credited with the helpers.

Seth Mandel was once again strong between the pipes. Central’s Rowen Parker — on a feed from Graham Stecker — ignited the scoring.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

River 56, Buckeye Local 17

HANNIBAL – Carleigh Trifonoff poured in 30 points, including 21 on three-pointers, as the Pilots rolled past the visiting Panthers inside the R.L. Potts Gymnasium.

Zoey Fox added 10 points for River, which led 31-7 at the half.

Brooke Driscoll had seven points for Buckeye Local.

Wheeling Central 70,

Charleston Catholic 46

WHEELING — The Maroon Knights put the brakes on a brief two-game losing skid and exacted a bit of revenge from last season’s state final by virtue of their win against visiting Charleston Catholic on Saturday.

The Knights (11-4) used an impressive middle two quarters where they outscored the Irish, 40-22, to seize control.

Senior Seneca Heller scored 22 points and eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for her career in the game. She was complemented in the scoring column by Erin Maxwell’s 20. Bella Fitzsimmons added 13 and Addie Payton donated 11.

BOYS BASKETBALL

New Lexington 44, Union Local 40, ot

NEX LEXINGTON – The Jets fell in overtime to the host Panthers.

Brody Kerns paced Union Local with 20 points. Jacob Stroud added 13, including the lone two in the extra session.

Buckeye Local 57,

Shadyside 43

SHADYSIDE — The Panthers marched into the Tigers Den and came out with a win Saturday, paced by 17 points from Rylan Walker.

Hayden Wilhelm and Kyle Kirkland each scored 11 to join their teammate in double figures.

Jayden Johnson led Shadyside with 16 points while Micheal Hendershot scored a dozen.