Published: February 11, 2008 01:28 pm         

Potomac State shooting for conference titles

Top-seeded Catamounts hosting championship doubleheader today

KEYSER — It’s Championship Monday today at Potomac State, where the top-seeded Catamount men’s and women’s basketball teams hope to capture conference titles.

The Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference doubleheader begins with the women’s tournament championship game between Potomac State and CCAC-Allegheny at 5 o’clock.

At approximately 7 p.m., Potomac State takes on Beaver County in the men’s tournament championship game.

Both Potomac State teams are hoping to add tournament titles to their regular-season crowns.

* In the women’s game, Potomac State will be seeking is third win of the year against CCAC-Allegheny.

Coach Jim Walton’s Catamounts, 16-7 overall and unbeaten in 11 games against conference opponents, defeated CCAC-Allegheny 60-48 and 85-48 during the regular season. They are 10-2 in their last 12 games.

In their last meeting, the 85-48 win at Potomac State on Jan. 30, six Catamounts scored in double figures.

Potomac State advanced to today’s title game by routing Butler 72-41 on Saturday. Amanda McKim had 18 points, Cathy Clarke 13 points and six rebounds, Maddie Crosby 12 points and Denise Johnson eight points, four assists and four steals. The Catamounts allowed only 12 first-half points, and held a 39-12 lead at the break.

* The Potomac State men improved to 17-6 overall, and 10-1 against conference foes, with an 81-62 victory over Pitt-Titusville in the tournament semifinals on Saturday.

Travis Williams had 20 points, Hosea Berkley 20 points and 10 rebounds, Eli Crawford 13 points, 16 rebounds and four assists, Emile Payne 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Nader Shehadeh 11 points for the Catamounts, who hit nine three-point shots.

Coach Shawn White’s team is 14-1 in its last 15 games, with the only loss being to Beaver. The teams split their regular-season games, Potomac State winning 99-91 in Keyser and Beaver taking the rematch 89-76 in Monaca, Pa., in the regular-season finale one week ago.

Second-seeded Beaver improved to 17-10 with a 104-64 victory over Westmoreland in their tournament semifinal on Saturday.

Potomac State last won the conference championship four years ago. Beaver has won it the last three, and beat the Catamounts in last year’s semifinals.