Tournament "Sentencing," Part One

In case you've been away, or busy, or somehow otherwise preoccupied, here's a chance to catch up on what's gone on in the 2009 WVIAC Basketball Tournament.
Each game will be encapsulated in one sentence or less.
We'll start with the women.

FIRST ROUND

at Shepherd 94, Concord 79: The Rams' ferocious first 25 minutes put them ahead by 24 points early in the second half, and even going 7-12 from 3-point range down the stretch couldn't get the Lady Lions all the way back.
at West Liberty State 95, Bluefield State 38: Laura Malernee went off (7-13 3's, 21 points) and so did the rest of the Lady Toppers.
at West Virginia Wesleyan 73, Davis & Elkins 32: Anytime you can get all 15 players some minutes in the post-season, that's good -- ask the Lady Bobcats.
at Charleston 127, Salem International 25: No, this isn't a misprint, it's a 102-point margin of victory.
at Pitt-Johnstown 62, Wheeling Jesuit 59: The Cardinals started too slowly (.179 FG in the first half) for their fast finish (.500 in the 2nd) to fix.
at Fairmont State 67, Ohio Valley 50: The Fighting Falcons forced frequent flubs -- OVU committed 21 turnovers, allowing FSC to overcome .387 shooting.
at Seton Hill 67, Glenville State 49: Katie Lintner's double-double (18 points, 15 rebounds) kept the Pioneers at bay.
at West Virginia State 62, Alderson-Broaddus 55: Katie Pollak and Tori Charley had double-doubles -- and Chelsea Kuehner 25 points -- for the Battlers, but State had Brittany Mingo (27 points, 10-21 FG, 19 rebounds, 4 assists), and sometimes one great player makes the difference.


QUARTERFINALS

Pitt-Johnstown 78, Fairmont State 76 (OT): The Mountain Cats led by 15 in the second half, Fairmont State got its inside game going (22 paint points) and forced OT, but UPJ shared amongst themselves well enough (26 assists on 28 made field goals) to survive and advance.
West Virginia Wesleyan 62, Seton Hill 48: You do not want to get behind the Bobcats early and let them impose Sarah Van Horn on you (25 points, 10-17 FG, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 blocks).
Charleston 53, West Virginia State 52: Sometimes Sherry Winn wonders how her team wins games, and this must be what she means -- the Eagles shot .380, allowed 17 steals, committed 23 turnovers, tried 16 fewer shots, yet out-ground a grinding team.
West Liberty State 71, Shepherd 59: The Rams returned to earth, shot 1-11 from 3-point range, and couldn't contain Tori Hansen (29 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists).


SEMI-FINALS

West Liberty State 64, West Virginia Wesleyan 56: The Bobcats tried 59 field goals to the Toppers 46, but made only 19 to the Toppers' 20, and the big culprit was inside shooting -- Wesleyan had missed six easy layups when I lost count.
Charleston 73, Pitt-Johnstown 56: An ankle injury and foul trouble limited UC star Jihan Williams to only 21 minutes, but Veronica Carman filled the void (23 points, 5-8 3-point shooting), the Golden Eagles grabbed 12 steals and wore down the leg-weary Mountain Cats.