File photo Izzy Knotts had 22 points and 15 rebounds in Philip Barbour’s loss to Wheeling Central on Tuesday.

CHARLESTON — Kaitlyn Blake tossed in 37 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Class AA, top-seed Wheeling Central was too much for eighth-seed Philip Barbour, 78-48, Tuesday evening in state quarterfinal action inside the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.

The Lady Colts trailed by 23, at 49-26, at the intermission but began to whittle at the lead in the third quarter to remain within striking distance.

A 7-0 run to start the second half cut the deficit to 49-33 after Izzy Knotts converted a traditional three-point play with just under 6 minutes to go in the frame.

Knotts, who had 22 points in the game, scored five of the seven points during the run.

A 3-pointer by Finley Carpenter and a jumper by Tatiem Jeffries with 3:45 remaining in the quarter brought Philip Barbour within 54-41.

A layup by Blake put Central up again by 19 points, 61-42, before Carpenter again connected from long range and Knotts made a layup to make it 61-47 headed into the final quarter.

The Lady Colts, however, were limited to just a free throw in the final period as the Lady Maroon Knights pulled away.

Philip Barbour scored the game’s first four points before Central went on a 6-0 run and never trailed again after constructing a 30-15 advantage after one quarter.

Carpenter added 11 points, Jeffries nine points and eight rebounds and Knotts 15 boards, four assists, four steals and two blocks to go along with her team-high point total.

Seneca Heller chipped in 17 points and six steals, Addie Payton nine points, 11 assists and seven steals and Haley Severns six steals for Central, which advances to face the winner of Tuesday’s late game between No. 4 Wyoming East and No. 5 James Monroe at 11:15 a.m. Thursday in the semifinals.

The Lady Colts, whose starting lineup included four sophomores and one freshman, finished the season with a 14-9 record under coach Rick Mouser.

Philip Barbour (14-9)

Izzy Knotts 7 8-14 22, Finley Carpenter 4 0-0 11, Ansley Bolyard 2 0-0 6, Tatiem Jeffries 4 1-2 9, Olivia Wilmoth 0 0-0 0, Leann Moss 0 0-0 0, Paisley Stout 0 0-0 0, Ashley Poling 0 0-0 0, Stefanie Barker 0 0-0 0, Gracie Wolfe 0 0-0 0, Gracelynn Norman 0 0-0 0, Reagan Wright 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 9-16 48

Wheeling Central (22-2)

Haley Severn 2 0-0 4, Bella Fitzsimmons 1 0-0 3, Seneca Heller 5 5-8 17, Addie Payton 4 0-0 9, Kaitlyn Blake 15 7-7 37, Ava Hanson 0 2-2 2, Maddie Miehle 0 1-2 1, Erin Maxwell 2 1-2 5, Morgan Miehle 0 0-0 0, Berklee Heller 0 0-0 0, Kendall Schmitt 0 0-0 0, Jaecea Poyser 0 0-0 0, Angelina Robrecht 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 16-23 78

Philip Barbour 15 11 21 1 — 48

Wheeling Central 30 19 12 17 — 78

3-point goals: Philip Barbour 5 (Carpenter 3 and Bolyard 2), Wheeling Central 4 (S. Heller 2, Fitzsimmons and Payton)