The big question now is, has it set in yet?
Do they recognize the breadth of the accomplishment? The company they now keep? The names their names now join?
Central Catholic High, after all, had won 12 WVSSAC state championships since 1982 and 21 state Catholic titles before that, so when the Maroon Knights defeated Williamstown 59-40 for No. 13 a few weeks ago, it added a brand-new chapter to the program’s success story.
“One of the great things about our basket program is that the coaches are part of the history, and I think that instills respect for them and for the players that came before them. So, they look up to that and they aspire to do the same,” explained CCHS Principal Becky Sancomb. “But honestly, I don’t know if it’s really hit them yet. I don’t know if they realize the company they have joined.
“They are now one of those teams that people will look at and remember for years and years,” she said. “So, it’s pretty neat, and they will come to realize it.”
The championship game against the Yellowjackets was a lot closer than the final score indicates with Central ahead only 22-18 at halftime and 34-30 following an even third quarter, but a 25-point explosion in the fourth sealed the deal.
“What a lot of people don’t understand is that even though you may have talent, a lot of things have to go right for best-case scenario to come true,” Sancomb said. “This is special team for sure with players who bought into what the coaches tried to do, and they are fully engaged in the mission of the school, they support one another, and they work hard.
“All of those things are what it takes, and they put it all together to make it happen,” the principal explained. “It did not come easily for any of them, and that’s made it even better for them and all of us.”
The Tales Behind the Title
The young men will never forget the final buzzer, the pile on, and the cheers by fans and family that culminated a 24-2 season, but the players on Wheeling Central Catholic’s state championship basketball team likely will hold other memories for the years that follow the high school’s 13th state hoops title.
There were the early morning shoot-arounds, the parade through Wheeling escorted by first responders, the pep rally, all the tears and all the cheers, and the MVP bucket dump as soon as team leader Eli Sancomb entered the locker room following the Maroon Knights’ victory. Those are a few of the moments these champions believe they’ll hold close for years to come.
“I was a really fun year, I can tell you that, and that’s because all of our hard work paid off in the end,” said Sancomb, a junior who averaged nearly 26 points per game. “We were in the gym every day. We got shots up in the morning and after school, and then we did a lot of lifting and a lot of practicing. So, there definitely was a lot of dedication from everyone on our team.
“That’s how I knew we had something special in the beginning of the year; everyone on the team was willing to put in the extra work, and that’s what it takes,” he said. “I knew we were talented, so working as hard as we did and being coached by Coach Stephens and his staff, those things were the key. That’s why, in the end, we’re the state champions.”
Sancomb scored 26 and gathered 15 rebounds against Williamstown, teammate Max Olejasz added 14 points and seven rebounds, and Tyler Dean netted seven.
“I was the big guy who sat in paint to see what was available under the basket on offense,” Olejasz explained. “I worked hard to get as many rebounds as possible. I like doing the dirty work under the basket, so that’s why, every game, I did what I could to make the paint my domain.
“All season long, every one of else did what we could so we could be successful every game, and when Coach Stephens saw something we could take advantage of, that’s exactly what we did,” the junior said. “I know I did everything I could for us to be successful.”
Troy Anthony was a guard who, along with Braxton Billick, Dom Gianangeli, and Dean, was one of four seniors on the CCHS squad. He scored eight points in the championship and now plans to play at Franciscan University in Steubenville following his graduation in May.
“The seniors on this team have been together for four years, and we’ve been through all the ups and downs. My sophomore year, Eli and Max came in as freshmen and Eli had the ACL (injury), and Max was still trying to adapt to everything. So, it was kind of a rough spot, but I think it really helped us grow as a team.
“That’s the reason why we did what we did this year,” he said. “I knew (this team was special) at the beginning of the year (by) just watching the guys and how much work they all put in AAU and the summer leagues, practices, workouts – all of that. They all put in so much work that I just knew we were going to be special.”
Roles and Holes
One through five.
Coach Stephens, who added a seventh state title to his impressive coaching resume, employs an offensive system that labels positions with numbers. “One,” for example, is designated for the play-making point guard,” and “five” is the center who’s usually under the bucket.
But there’s much more that goes into a state champion. Just ask Billick.
“We all filled different roles … I was the energy guy, I feel like, and I tried to be the guy n the team who would talk to our players when things weren’t going well,” he explained. “I tried to bring energy to my teammates when they needed it the most – even in practice. I did what I could to end the bad run or to pick up a player when they were down.
“If it’s me who needed (encouragement), well, that’s just the kind of team we had. My teammates were always right there for me, too,” he said. “No one wanted to see anyone down. We were there for each other, and that’s just one reason why our team was so special and why we won the state.”
Gianangeli?
“The hard work definitely paid off but it was important to support each other,” he insisted. “I’ll remember the guys on this team the most, and all of the good times we had with each other because we were always there for each other. Not everyone gets the chance to experience everything that went into this past season.
“It was year-round, and there weren’t a lot of days off,” Gianangeli with a smile. “We were a team. That’s for sure.”
And Dean?
”I know some of the other guys have talked about us playing as a team,” he said, “but that’s really true. We were a team, that’s for sure.”
And let’s not forget the Hall of Fame head coach and his insight.
“I’m glad they experienced it the way they did because we hadn’t won a state championship for a while and that means it was the first time for everyone on the team,” said Stephens, who is the winningest head coach in CCHS hoops history. “It was really neat for me to watch them go through it, and your coach can only tell them so much about the experience. They have to fill the roles.
“Every (championship) is very special to me and to the staff, but the last one was back in 2018, so it was great to get back to where we belong,” he said. “Our guys worked so hard, and they did everything they needed to do to win, and that made it even better.”
