West Central seventh graders finish in second at state

By Editor | February 11, 2026 |

Team members and cheerleaders of the team are, front row, left to right, Kylar Coon, Brynn Evans, Isabella Lovekamp, Lily Freeman, Ruby Ballard, Kyla Edwards, Kinsley Fryman, Collins Brown, Caroline Smith, Genesis Booth. Second row, Andrew Metz, Brycen Bloxam, Jace Fryman, Maddox Chapman, Hudson Little, Jacoby Bigley, Kash Bangert, Jack Daws. Third row, Assistant Coach Kevin Cadwell, Coach Adam Little, Bronson Dorsey, Eli Coker, Ezra Barber, Easton Van Tuyle, Mason Stocker, Knox Vortman, Uriah Sampson, Assistant Coach Ryan Little. Yodel Gonzalez is also a part of the team as manager. (Submitted photo)

By KENT COULTAS and Beth Zumwalt

Effingham St. Anthony allowed just seven second half points and beat West Central 31-21 in the championship game of the IESA 7-2A Boys’ Basketball state tournament Feb. 4 at Macon.
The Cougars finished the season 26-1. St. Anthony finished 25-1.
Hudson Little made a three-point basket, and the Cougars led 17-14 with 5:26 remaining in the third quarter.
St. Anthony scored eight straight points and led 23-15. West Central went 4:01 with scoring before Maddox Chapman scored with 1:25 remaining in the quarter.
Chapman stole the ball and scored with 12 seconds remaining, and the Cougars trailed 25-21 after three quarters.
St. Anthony outscored the Cougars 6-0 in the fourth quarter and pulled away for the win.
Knox Vortman scored with 4:16 remaining in the first quarter and tied the game at 2-all. St.
Anthony led 6-2 after one quarter.
St. Anthony extended its lead to 13-6 before West Central scored eight straight points.
Vortman scored twice, and Andrew Metz scored as the Cougars got within 13-12 with 1:20 remaining in the second quarter. Chapman scored, and West Central led 14-13 with 42 seconds remaining.
St. Anthony scored with 15 seconds remaining and led 15-14 at halftime.
West Central played the second half without leading Ezra Barber, who suffered a broken wrist in the first half.
Chapman and Vortman each scored six points to lead West Central. Eli Coker scored four
points, and Little scored three. Metz scored two points.
The West Central Cougars fell in the state title game, 31-21 to Effingham, but the loss does not diminish what the team accomplished during the 2025-26 season.
Not only did they go undefeated throughout the regular season and post season play, they won several tournaments along the way.
“We want these boys to know how proud we are of them for such an amazing accomplishment,” Nick ZuHone, Assistant Principal at Winchester Elementary, said. “They are truly a great group of boys on and off the court . We know this isn’t the result they wanted, but we know it will give them motivation and focus for what eighth grade will bring.”