Blake, Heller, Payton Spark Top-Ranked Wheeling Central Over Tyler
Kristin Mazgaj Trending
EAST WHEELING - Despite 10 days off between outings, Wheeling Central played like a well-oiled machine Monday night.
The Maroon Knights (9-0) did nothing to tarnish their No. 1 ranking atop the latest W.Va. Class AA Coaches Poll with an 88-39 clobbering of visiting Tyler Consolidated inside a toasty Catholic Central Activities Center.
"We might have had a little rust at the very beginning of the game, but after that the girls stepped up and were ready to go," Wheeling Central head coach Roberta Olejasz said. "We put some new stuff in ... showed some different looks."
Wheeling Central led wire-to-wire in its first game since routing Class AAAA Indian Creek in the Buckeye 8 Challenge.
Senior Kaitlyn Blake netted 15 of her game-high 28 points in the first quarter when the Maroon Knights sprinted to a 30-11 advantage.
Wheeling Central's pressure defense forced the Silver Knights (2-6) into nine turnovers in the first eight minutes, prompting Tyler Consolidated head coach Scott Wall into a timeout less than a minute into the contest.
"They are a good team. They are the top team in the state and we knew that coming in," Wall said. "We knew we had to play pretty flawless basketball because Wheeling Central does play pretty flawless basketball, but their pressure hurt us early on.
"We're still young and make some goofy mistakes, but Wheeling Central is a good team. They get up and down the floor."
The Silver Knights also had nine turnovers in the second quarter as the hosts built their lead to 47-15 at the break as Seneca Heller and Addie Payton were a dynamic duo atop the press.
"With Seneca and Addie at the top of the press in the halfcourt, their pressure is killer," Olejasz noted. "It's hard to get by them."
Heller finished with 19 points, nine steals and five assists in an all-around performance. Payton had 13 markers and five steals.
Erin Maxwell came off the Maroon Knights bench to score six points and pull down a game-best dozen rebounds as the hosts held a commanding, 47-22, advantage off the boards. Bella Fitzsimmons collared seven boards.
Riley Stover paced the Silver Knights with 15 points. Kathryn Grimm added nine.
Wheeling Central's bench, led by Maxwell, outscored Tyler Consolidated 19-0 as everyone saw action.
"We're going to need to be deep if we're going to win," Olejasz said. "It's nice to be able to get everyone in the game. I think our depth is coming along nicely."