Published: February 09, 2008 11:56 pm         

Potomac State advances to WPCC title game

Cats’ balance too much for Pitt-Titusville

KEYSER, W.Va. — With a starting guard sidelined in the opening minutes, the Potomac State College Catamounts rose to the occasion with teamwork and a balanced attack to beat Pitt-Titusville, 81-62, in the semifinals of the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

The top-seeded and regular-season champion Catamounts (17-6), who had five scorers reach double figures, will host second-seeded and regular-season runner-up Beaver County in the championship game on Monday, at 7 p.m.

The 7 p.m. men’s game will be the second of a championship doubleheader at the Dana G. Lough gymnasium. Potomac State will be hosting CCAC-Allegheny in the WPCC women’s title game at 5 o’clock.

Travis Williams and Hosea Berkley had 20 points, and Berkley, Eli Crawford and Emile Payne recorded double-doubles to help carry the Catamount men to the victory over Titusville.

Williams hit six field goals, including four three-point goals, and all four of his foul shots for his 20 points. Berkley made seven field goals and went 6-for-9 from the foul line. He also had 10 rebounds.

Crawford scored 13 points, grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds and dished out four assists, while Payne had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Nader Shehadeh hit three three-pointers and finished with 11 points coming off the bench.

It was the Catamounts’ third win of the season over Titusville. They won the regular-season meetings 81-80 and 103-87.

This one came without Chad Wilson, who left the game in the opening minutes with an injured wrist and did not return. It was uncertain Saturday if he would be able to play in Monday’s title game.

“It was a good team win. Everyone stepped up when Chad went out and a lot of people played major minutes for us,’’ said Potomac State coach Sean White. “Ryland Newman and Nader Shehadeh played well and gave us really good minutes off the bench.”

The teams combined for 19 three-point goals. Zane Oxley had 16 points to lead Pitt-Titusville, which had 10 three-point goals.