High School Sports

Wheeling Central Headed Back To Charleston

WHEELING -- Hannah White played her final game on Skip Prosser Court Wednesday night. Safe to say, it will not be one she soon forgets.

Wheeling Central's senior dynamo poured in a career-high 33 points in leading the Maroon Knights to a convincing 74-42 Region One, Section One co-final win over outmanned Ritchie County. White's scoring exploits helped to send Coach Penn Kurtz's charges to the state tournament in Charleston once again.

Kurtz and the state tournament are intertwined. The highly successful mentor has taken the Knights to 25 state tourney trips in his 28 years at the helm. His teams have won three state championships along the way, the last coming two seasons ago.

"There is nothing better than going to the state tournament. It is extra special with this team," Kurtz beamed. "We were 9-11 at one point and these girls could have quit. A lot of people gave up on us. They kept working and kept getting better and we became a very good team again.

"We didn't want to lose this game for Kaylee (Reinbeau) and Hannah. It was their last game here and we wanted to send them back to Charleston.

"Hannah was tremendous (Wednesday). She outdid her mom (Heather Contraguerro White) who scored 31 in the regionals for me in my first year as head coach."

Central set the tone at the outset, utilizing its 2-2-1 fullcourt press to totally disrupt the Rebels. Eight Ritchie turnovers plus 13 White points staked the hosts to a 22-4 lead after one quarter.

The Knights were never threatened thereafter.

Central held a 42-22 halftime lead with White contributing 23 points prior to intermission. The hosts were on top 57-34 after three quarters.

"We felt we had to pressure them because they were tall. We did a good job of getting after them," Kurtz noted. "Our press really was effective early on. We were able to get some easy buckets off of it."

Central improved to 14-11 while Ritchie County checked out at 15-10. The Maroon Knights enter the state tourney as the No. 6 seed.

They will face No. 3 Gilmer County (20-5) on Thursday, March 12 at 9:30 a.m.

Reinbeau turned in her usual all-around strong game. The D-I recruit netted nine points to go with 10 rebounds, four steals and a blocked shot.

Tristen White added eight counters to the winning attack while Marissa Horan added seven points and boundless hustle. All told, nine Knights reached the scoring column.

"We really wanted to win this game tonight. It was Kaylee's and my last game at home and we wanted to go out the right way. The team has been practicing very hard," White said, who also recorded six steals on the night. "The team really wanted to get back to Charleston and go after another state title. I didn't know until Coach Kurtz told me after the game that I outscored my mom in the regionals. I couldn't have done it without my teammates."

Andrea Kirk and Ashley Davis led Ritchie County with 12 points each.

The Rebels ended with 20 turnovers. Central committed just seven.