photo by: Kristin Mazgaj

Wheeling Central's Addie Payton fires a 3-pointer Friday during the Maroon Knights' Class AA state semifinals matchup against the Williamstown Yellowjackets.

CHARLESTON — The second half spelled trouble for the No. 3 Wheeling Central Maroon Knights on Friday in their WVSSAC State Tournament Semifinal matchup vs. No. 2 Williamstown, as the Knights saw a 10-point halftime lead turn into a 53-42 loss by the final buzzer inside the Charleston Coliseum.

Central carried a 36-26 lead into the locker rooms at the break, but was outscored 27-6 in the second half to send the Yellowjackets into Saturday’s Class AA title game, set for 12:15 p.m.

Wheeling Central shot 13-25 in the first half (52%) and made four of six 3-point attempts, including a 3-3 half from deep by senior Addie Payton.

In the second half, the Maroon shot 3-22 (13.6%) and did not connect on any of their seven 3-point attempts.

By the end of the third quarter, Williamstown had taken the lead, 42-40.

Gracie Montgomery and Maggie Frye each had 12 points to lead Williamstown.

Addie Payton scored 16 points to lead Wheeling Central, while Erin Maxwell scored 10 with seven rebounds. Bella Fitzsimmons and Seneca Heller each scored six, Fitzsimmons pulling down eight rebounds, tied for a game-high.

The Maroon Knights will say farewell to an impact senior class, including Heller, Payton, Maxwell and Haley Severns, all starters for this year’s squad.

Williamstown’s opponent tomorrow will be the winner of the opposite Class AA semifinal, No. 5 Greenbrier East vs. No. 1 James Monroe.