WHEELING — The time has come.

After reaching the West Virginia State Tournament for the 12th consecutive year in 2020 only to watch the event get canceled due to the breakout of COVID-19, the Wheeling Central boys’ basketball team is elated to get back on the court.

The Maroon Knights will have their share of obstacles in making it 13 straight years with a state tournament appearance, though.

In the re-alignment of classes in the WVSSAC, there are now four classes and Central made the massive jump from Class A to Class AAA.

They also lost starters Jalen Creighton and Clayton Abate to graduation and Avery Lee, who transferred to Wheeling Park.

Nonetheless, the Maroon Knights are ready for any challenge thrown their way.

“With moving up a couple of classes, there are different teams we are going to face,” Central coach Mel Stephens said. “It’s never easy. We always try to play a good schedule for when tournament time rolls around. It’s always our goal to get better every day and hopefully when sectional rolls around, we’re playing our best ball.

“Even though we’re moving up, these kids have been through tournament time and they know what it takes. Hopefully we can reward the guys who didn’t get a chance to play down there last year.”

Two of the guys who led the team to the state tournament last year are J.C. Maxwell and Ryan Reasbeck.

Maxwell enters his senior campaign after earning First Team All-State honors last season with 14 points, six rebounds and three assists per game.

“Those two are going to be our leaders,” Stephens said of Maxwell and Reasbeck. “The team voted them captains. The kids know what is going on and they know they are leaders on and off the court.

“Those two guys are going to make other guys around them better. They are smart enough to share the ball and give others scoring opportunities, too.”

Reasbeck, a junior, also brought talent to the floor last year as he was named second team all-state.

“Ryan is a very good shooter from the perimeter,” Stephens said. “He has really improved his game. He can take the ball to the hoop and he’s going to put up good scoring numbers, but he really has the ability to rebound. He’s going to make a lot of plays on defense. He’s very athletic and he’s going to help us in a lot of areas.”

Along with Maxwell and Reasbeck leading the charge, senior Kaden Yocum and juniors Michael Toepfer and Caleb Ratcliffe look to fill big roles this year.

Freshman Leyton Toepfer is also expected to get minutes this year and senior Vinnie High will play a key role throughout the season.

Stephens also said that sophomore Lorenzo Ferrera and junior Ayden Baker are two guys who have “worked hard and are going to help us this year.”

Although there may be some new faces in the starting lineup, the majority of this year’s squad was a part of last year’s team who reached the state tournament and for Stephens, that’s very important.

“When you reach the state tournament, the kids the next year realize what it takes to get there,” Stephens said. “They enjoyed the experience and gave them a little added motivation.”

Six-foot-three seniors Luke Canestraro and Jayden Gray are new to the team after transferring in from John Marshall and Martins Ferry, respectively, while junior Evan Hanlin is expected to see his first varsity time this year, as well.

“Canestraro and Gray are going to give us a few big kids in the post,” Stephens said. “We have the potential to be one of the deepest teams. We can go down to 11 or 12 players. Four guys can get minutes in the post and we can move J.C. to the other spot.”

The Knights tip off the season on March 5 at Charleston Catholic and will also see teams such as Linsly, Weir, Oak Glen and Brooke throughout the campaign.