Photo by Bruce Crawford Hundred’s Cody Soles tries to get a shot off in heavy traffic.

Five of 11 Wheeling Central players scored in double-figures, and the out-manned Hundred Hornets competed until the very end; however, the Hundred boys basketball team but would have its ticket to the Region I Co-Final put on hold for another year as the Maroon Knights wore down the never-say-die Hornets, 90-55, in the Region I, Section II semifinal, held Feb. 26 inside Bob Burton Gymnasium in Paden City.

Andrew Zedell got the Hornets off to a great start as his rebound putback drew first blood to start the game. However, the Knights would score the next nine points, before Travis “Double-Double” McCoy – with a game-total 23 points and 10 rebounds – scored on another rebound putback for Hundred to break up the Central rally.

Sandwiched in between a pair of Central two-pointers, McCoy swished one of two from the free throw line.

Cody Soles finished off a nice drive for a deuce, but Wheeling added another basket off another Hundred turnover.

Logan Norris scored a conventional three-point play off a Hundred steal, but Central would close out the quarter with a 5-2 run, ending with a Zedell bucket at the buzzer for Hundred.

Photo by Bruce Crawford Hundred’s Travis McCoy gets off a one-handed shot against Central.

Central started the second stanza on fire, scoring the first three baskets before McCoy stopped the bleeding with his second offensive rebound putback.

McCoy added a free throw in between another two Central baskets, before Zedell answered with a three-ball with a kiss off the glass.

The Knights added to their lead with four deuces and a Jalen Creighton three-ball, but Zedell finished off a nice Hundred fast break with a nice reverse lay-in. A Martin Baker basket from beyond the arc also contributed to Hundred’s total as they headed into the locker room down, 43-25.

Wheeling Central went on a 25-10 run in the third period. However, the Hundred faithful, led by their cheerleaders and McCoy’s 15 points -that included his second-ever basket from beyond the arc – stayed right with the top-ranked Maroon Knights in the final period of play, 22-20.

Four of the Wheeling Central starters scored in double-figures, with Don Mills leading the way with 16 points – including 6-of-6 from the line. Anthony Robbins followed with 14 points, while Ryan Reasbeck tallied 13 points with two triples. Creighton came off the bench to score 11 points for all the double-digit Central scorers.

McCoy led all scorers with 23 points. Zedell also contributed a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Soles was shy two points from a double-double. He also grabbed 10 rebounds. Soles dished out five assists and made three steals, while Norris netted eight markers with one three-ball, five rebounds, and dished out just as many assists. Baker finished the Hornets’ scoring; he netted five with one triple, and he made four steals.

“I’m so proud of our kids. We were snake-bitten with injuries, with starter Aaron Stephens going down, and Coach Virgil Wilkins. The kids played as hard as they could, and I know Coach Wilkins and our school are very proud of these boys, they never quit,” said interim head coach Jeremy Kelch.

“Losing Aaron late in the season, and having to use Cody as another guard to help Norris, changed the way we played, but it also was nice to see Andrew (Zedell),who was playing basketball for the first time as a senior, be moved up to varsity gave us a boost.”

Hundred will lose seniors McCoy, Zedell and Joseph White to graduation, but will return Soles, Norris, Baker, Adam and Aaron Stephens next season.