Photo Provided The Wheeling Park boys basketball team celebrates following Wednesday’s 50-45 win over Bridgeport in a Classs AAAA Region 1 Co-Final.

BRIDGEPORT — Wheeing Park is heading to the state tournament following a 50-45 win over Bridgeport in Wednesday’s Class AAAA Region 1 Co-Final.

The Patriots qualify for the state tournament for the first time since 2020, when the event was cancelled due to COVID.

“We won (a Regional) in 2020 with a team that was possibly good enough to win the state championship,” Park coach Michael Jebbia said. “It took us a while to get over that. For us to start this season 0-3 and to win 16 games and now to be going to Charleston is a credit to our players, our coaches and our seniors for leading us. We play a tough schedule by choice. A lot of teams wouldn’t sign up for that schedule and it paid off. We’re going to enjoy this week.”

Junior Bret Phillips led Park with a game-high 21 points while freshman Aiden Daivs supplied 17.

“He’s a leader and he cares so much for his teammates,” Jebbia said of Phillips who shot 8-for-8 from the field in the win. “He’s had an all-state caliber season and he played incredibly well (Wednesday).

“Aiden Davis — for a ninth grader to step up and make big free throws in the regional championship and for freshman Darrae Goodwin to make a free throw with 30 seconds to go to put us up four — this is a great moment and these kids deserve it.”

Bridgeport was led by 18 points from Mitchell Duez.

“We have gone on the road before and won the regional,” Park coach Mike Jebbia said. “Our guys have played extremely well on the road this year. Bridgeport is good in every athletic program and we knew it was going to be a tough game.”

Park is ranked as the No. 6 seed in the tournament and will play No. 3 Parkersburg South in the quarterfinal round.

“I feel for the seniors in 2020 and 2021 because they laid the foundation for (Wednesday’s) game,” Jebbia said. “They helped guide these younger kids. I’m so proud of our kids for staying the course.”