CHARLESTON — There was simply no stopping the Wheeling Central Maroon Knights this season.

Wheeling Central capped off an undefeated 23-0 campaign with a WVSSAC Class AA state championship on Saturday, getting to the mountaintop in back-to-back fashion with a 55-39 victory over Wyoming East inside a packed Charleston Coliseum.

Though the Maroon Knights and Warriors kept it close throughout, Wheeling Central never trailed in the second half of Saturday’s title bout, Central’s Eli Sancomb leading the way with 21 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in the final outing of the reigning Evans Award winner’s career.

Wheeling Central led 15-13 after the first quarter, seizing the lead after Luke Sancomb hit a heavily contested catch-and-shoot 3-pointer with two seconds left in the opening period.

Central’s lead was one at halftime, 24-23. Steven Brodegard provided key scores for the Maroon Knights in the first half, scoring eight points on 4-4 shooting. Brodegard’s free throw-line jump shot with 5:06 in the second quarter gave Central a 19-16 lead and prompted a timeout from Wyoming East.

Central shot 10-26 in the first half; East shot 9-26.

The Maroon lead had increased to 10 by the end of the third quarter, 38-28, as Central’s defense held Wyoming east to 2-11 shooting in the quarter.

Down 12 points with a few minutes to go, Wyoming East tried to send Central’s Luke Sancomb to the line, but the junior went 4-4 from the foul line to salt away the championship win.

Wheeling Central had won consecutive titles on two separate occasions prior– 2008 and 2009, and 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005– all years where the Knights competed in Class A.

Central’s Luke Sancomb and Max Olejasz each scored 10 points, Olejasz also grabbing six rebounds in the final game of the 6-7 senior’s Wheeling Central career. Brodegard, another senior, finished with three blocks to go with his eight points. Junior Nico Kusic scored six points with four rebounds and four assists.

Wheeling Central outrebounded Wyoming East 32-28 and shot 46.7% against the Warriors’ 32 percent.

Wyoming East was led by Keegan Davidson’s 16 points.

Luke Sancomb, Max Olejasz and Eli Sancomb made the Class AA All-Tournament team after the game. Eli Sancomb was additionally honored as the Class AA Tournament MVP.