Wheeling Park’s Mar Rouse (23) attempts to block a shot by Parkersburg’s Chandler Jackson (2) during action Tuesday night inside the ‘Palace on the Hill’ at Wheeling Park High School. Jackson had 27 points to lead the Big Reds to a 70-50 victory. Looking on is the Patriots’ Kolten Whitmire. (Photo by Kim North)

WHEELING – Wheeling Park and Parkersburg were deadlocked at 40 midway through the third quarter Tuesday night inside the ‘Palace on the Hill.’ However, during the final 12 minutes, the shots kept falling for the visiting Big Reds, but not for the hosts as their Senior Night was spoiled.

Parkersburg (6-15) finished the game on a 30-10 run en route to a 70-50 rout of Wheeling Park in the next-to-last regular season contest for both. The Patriots welcome Washington, the fourth-ranked Class AAAA squad, on Saturday at 1 p.m. in a varsity-only game.

“They definitely hit some big shots, but our defender wasn’t what it has been all year,” Wheeling Park head coach Michael Jebbia said. “This is the first time in a long time that I’m upset and disappointed with how we played as a whole.”

Parkersburg, which entered the matchup riding a six-game losing streak, but it blistered the Ohio County nets at a sizzling 68-percent (28-41), while the Patriots were 19-for-56 for a respectable 34 percent. However, Wheeling Park couldn’t connect from deep, meshing just 5 of 26 three-point attempts.

“I think we were feeling sorry for ourselves because we couldn’t make any shots, but a 30-10 run is inexcusable,” Jebbia stressed. “Sometimes our lack of basketball IQ – passing and shot selection – just isn’t what it should be, but you’re not going to beat anybody shooting like we did from three.”

Senior Kolten Whitmire drew Wheeling Park even at 40 with two free throws, but a quick 7-0 spurt was all Parkersburg needed to start pulling away. JD Williams scored with 1:31 left in the third quarter, but the visitors led 50-42 with a quarter remaining.

A 10-1 surge to start the fourth built the lead to 60-43 and the Big Reds never looked back.

“This is the worst I’ve felt on Senior Night in my 20 years here,” Jebbia noted. “So, it’s back to the drawing board because we’ve got a good team coming in here Saturday.”

Williams, one of seven seniors who were honored in pre-game festivities, was the lone double-digit scorer for the Patriots with 20. However, 16 of them came in the first half when Wheeling Park led by as many as six late in the half before the Big Reds sliced the deficit to two, 34-32.

Junior Chandler Jackson netted 16 of his game-best 27 points in the second half to lift Parkersburg. He was one of four players in twin figures as Mathias Williams added 14, Quentin Wilson 11 and Jaxon Thomas 10.

Jordan Beck-James supported Williams with eight markers off the bench, while senior Josh Huffman finished with seven.

Parkersburg held a slim, 26-22, advantage off the glass as Thomas grabbed eight and Jackson seven. Williams and fellow senior Mar Rouse each had five for Wheeling Park.

The Big Reds charted three more turnovers at 13-10.

Parkersburg ends the regular season at Riverside on March 3.

GAME NOTES

– In addition to Williams, Whitmire, Huffman and Rouse, other seniors honored were Luca Swartz, Gahmill Byrd and Marcus Ludolph.

– The Patriots now await the final seeding for the Class AAAA North Regional Tournament. Jebbia said those would be released sometime on Thursday.