WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – No. 10 West Liberty needed less than 5 minutes to rack up a double-digit lead against Charleston in Friday night’s WVIAC Tournament semifinal and the high-flying Hilltoppers were never challenged in easing to a 96-84 victory at the Civic Center Coliseum.
West Liberty’s 22nd consecutive win sets up a showdown of nationally-ranked teams in tonight’s championship game as the No. 10 Hilltoppers (27-1) will face No. 18 West Virginia State (27-3) in an 8:30 p.m. tipoff. The Yellow Jackets blasted Alderson-Broaddus, 90-65, in Friday’s other semifinal matchup.
Coach Jim Crutchfield’s regular-season champions led wire-to-wire in a dominating performance against a Charleston (19-11) team that was coming off an impressive 101-90 thrashing of Fairmont State in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
