Photo by Kim North Monroe Central’s Caedyn Silva (14) grabs a rebound in front of Wheeling Central’s Luke Sancomb during Tuesday night’s ‘Battle of State Champions II’ on Junior Winland Court inside Monroe Central High School in Woodsfield. The Maroon Knights rallied for a 66-60 victory to remain unbeaten.

WOODSFIELD — Eli Sancomb showed why he is heading to play NCAA Division I basketball as he put on a fourth-quarter clinic Tuesday night that kept Wheeling Central unbeaten in 12 outings.

The Maroon Knights’ junior scored 21 of his game-high 32 points in the final 8-minute panel in leading his team to a 66-60 triumph over host Monroe Central (13-3) in a ‘Battle of State Champions II’ on Junior Winland Court. The hard-earned victory allowed the West Virginians to sweep the regular-season series, with a matchup in the upcoming OVAC Class 3A Tournament a possibility.

The Liberty University recruit knocked down eight field goals and went 15-of-17 from the free throw stripe, including 12 for 14 in the fourth quarter when Wheeling Central rallied from five down.

Trailing by 49-44, Sancomb drilled a trey from the top of the key and scored on a fastbreak layup to draw the Maroon Knights even at 49. The teams were deadlocked at 51 before Sancomb tickled the twine on four straight charity tosses that sparked a 8-0 run that extended the lead to 59-51. The only field goal Sancomb didn’t make in the quarter came via a Max Olejasz two-hand dunk.

In addition to his game-high point total, the 6-5 Sancomb also pulled down a game-best 11 rebounds and dished out seven assists as he flirted with a triple-double.

He was supported by Nico Kusic with 13 points and Olejasz with 11. Nahiem Shepherd drilled a pair of key three-point goals to finish with six. In addition to his points, Olejasz also grabbed six rebounds.

Cooper Howell led four Seminoles in double digits with 18 points.

Corbin Farnsworth and Caedyn Silva had 12 each while Blake Yontz added 11. Howell and Silva each had eight boards.

The win also clinched the top seed for the Maroon Knights in the aforementioned OVAC Class 3A Tournament. Monroe Central was second entering last night, but Columbiana and Martins Ferry were a close third and fourth. Tuesday night was the cut-off for the upcoming event.

The game was knotted six times and saw the lead change hands on 13 occasions.

Both teams charted a dozen turnovers.