BUTLER TWP — The way Matt Lobaugh was shooting, it seemed like he couldn't miss.

Fortunately, his last shot didn't.

Lobaugh scored 33 points, the final two on a running, off-balance shot just inside the free-throw line with 1.3 seconds left to give the Butler County Community College men's basketball team a 74-73 victory over Potomac State (W.Va.) in the first round of the WPCC playoffs Wednesday.

With two defenders guarding him, Lobaugh was able to get the shot off, but that didn't guarantee anything.

"I felt like it slipped out of my hand," said Lobaugh. "I didn't think it was going in."

Daniel Johnson had sunk two free throws with 14.5 seconds left to give the Catamounts the one-point lead.

After Lobaugh's shot, Potomac State called a timeout to stop the clock, another to reset its offense and a third after a pass to mid-court was pulled in.

With 0.1 seconds left, the Catamounts only chance was a tip-in, but the throw hit the rim and Butler came away with the rebound as the buzzer sounded.

After Butler (13-11) led the entire first half, the teams exchanged the lead 14 times in the second half.

Potomac State (6-15) enjoyed its first lead of the game with 18:36 remaining following a three-point play by Nate Hart.

The teams alternated the lead six more times over the next 4:10 before a 9-0 run by the Catamounts — including a 3-pointer by Irvin Jones and four free throws by Jeremy Anderson — gave the team a 53-45 lead.

The Pioneers answered with a 9-0 spurt of their own, highlighted by 3-pointers from Lobaugh and Peterson, to take a 54-53 lead.

"I think we kept our composure," said BC3 coach Tony Grenek. "We understand, no matter who we play, that we play a certain type of pace. Whether we're up by eight or down by eight, we keep the same pace."

BC3 maintained that lead until Potomac State used a basket by Hart and a 3-pointer by Johnson to knot the game at 67 with 4:16 to go.

Butler grad Will Miller answered with a 3-pointer, his third of the game, to give BC3 the lead, but Hart scored two baskets in a 34-second span to give the Catamounts the lead once more.

When Joel Rehm (Butler High) scored with 1:47 left, the Pioneers grabbed a 72-71 lead, which held until the two free throws by Johnson, followed by Lobaugh's heroics.

"(Lobaugh's) been a great player for us for two years," said Grenek. "All of our second-year guys have been."

The Pioneers were a model of consistency, scoring 37 points in each half.

"With the way we run our offense, that's just the flow of our offense," said Lobaugh. "Coach always says if you get an open shot, shoot it."

Miller added 13 points, Peterson had 12 and Moniteau graduate Tyler Hempfling added eight.

The Catamounts received 26 points from Johnson, 20 from Hart and 12 from Anderson.

The win was the third time the Pioneers dispatched the Catamounts this year.

"I'm sure if people came to see the game, no one would be picking us," said Grenek. "(Potomac State) is a full-scholarship team, so it's a credit to our guys and we're doing it with local guys for the most part."

Notes:

This marks the second consecutive season the Pioneers have won home playoff games. … The squad will advance to the semifinal round Saturday, most likely meeting College of Beaver County, unless CCAC-South upsets CCAC-Allegheny.

POTOMAC STATE (73)Irvin Jones 3 1-2 9, Steven Davis 0 0-0 0, Nate Hart 8 4-5 20, Daniel Johnson 10 4-4 26, Jeremy Anderson 4 4-6 12, Aaron Amtower 2 0-0 6, Ryan Vance 0 0-0 0, Zac Kerns 0 0-0 0. Totals: 27 13-17 73.

BCCC (74)Tyler Hempfling 3 2-2 8, Jeremy Peterson 4 1-2 12, Matt Lobaugh 16 0-1 33, Will Miller 4 2-2 13, Joel Rehm 2 0-0 4, Chris Harmon 2 0-0 4, Ed Beasley 0 0-0 0. Totals: 31 5-7 74.

Three-point goals — Jones 2, Johnson 2, Amtower 2; Peterson 3, Miller 3, Lobaugh