Photo by Nick Henthorn Wheeling Central boys basketball player Luke Sancomb celebrates during the Class AA state championship game.

Unbeaten. Undeniable. Undisputed.

The Wheeling Central boys basketball team capped a perfect season in perfect fashion, barreling through the Class AA state tournament to hold aloft the state title for the second consecutive year. In three games, the Maroon Knights’ average margin of victory as 29.3 points. The closest any of Central’s state tournament foes came was Wyoming East’s 55-39 loss in the championship game. No other team was able to come within 33 points.

The Maroon Knights were once again led by senior Eli Sancomb — a Liberty signee and two-time West Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year — who finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds and four assists against Wyoming East to capture the Class AA tournament’s Most Valuable Player award and join teammates Luke Sancomb and Max Olejasz on the all-tournament team.

This championship added another chapter to the Maroon Knights’ storied history in the tournament. It was the program’s 14th state title in its history. It also was the third time they’ve won at least two consecutive state championships.

Among its biggest marks in Central history was its place as the first undefeated team since 1963.