CCAC-Boyce men's basketball battling for conference title

The men's basketball team at CCAC-Boyce in Monroeville is in its second season after more than two decades of nonexistence.

Head coach Dave DeVenzio said he's excited with the fight of this year's version in the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference of Division III in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

The team was tied for the conference lead with Potomac State, an affiliate of West Virginia University, at 7-1 heading into the teams' matchup Wednesday at the CCAC-Boyce gym.

The game was to be played past the deadline for this week's edition.

“We're very excited for what lies ahead,” DeVenzio said.

“The team has exceeded all expectations. We're going to do our best to win the conference title.”

The conference tournament is set for Feb. 13 to 15.

CCAC-Boyce also has qualified for the NJCAA Regional XX Division III Tournament, set for CCAC-Allegheny's campus gym, from Feb. 19 to 22.

DeVenzio said CCAC, with a mix of local high school graduates and a couple of players from outside the state of Pennsylvania, continues to make strides despite a lack of big numbers on its roster.

The team started the season with 13 players, but five did not continue with the team after the first semester because they did not meet the school's academic requirements.

“Academics are the top priority,” DeVenzio said. “The players have to maintain a certain grade-point average. Losing those players shortened the bench a lot.

“It made it a lot harder to practice, but to be honest, it's an advantage for games. We don't have to worry about subbing and making sure everyone has time. They know they will get playing time.”

CCAC began January with eight players, but James Sero, a Trinity Christian graduate and Penn Hills resident, suffered two broken wrists in a fall against Butler County Community College on Jan. 12.

“He tried to brace himself, and he came down hard on both hands,” DeVenzio said. “His doctor said he hadn't seen anything like that before in his life.”

DeVenzio said he hopes to get Sero back for the regional tournament.�

The team has battled through with the seven remaining players, including Plum graduate Greg Spynda and Penn Hills grads Shyheim Faulkner and Derrick Smith.

Faulkner, a freshman, has been the team's top scorer on a regular basis. He is fourth in the country in scoring at the Division III level with an average of 26.6 points per game.

Faulkner scored a team-best 23 points in a 64-61 victory over rival CCAC Allegheny on Jan. 10.

“I think Boyce and Allegheny can become a big rivalry,” DeVenzio said.

“They beat us pretty handily last year. It can become a rivalry if we are more competitive. That game (Jan. 10) was what these games can be every time. There's a little more incentive to these games because the kids know each other well.”

The teams rematch at CCAC-Allegheny's gym on Feb. 11.

DeVenzio said the sophomores — Smith, Serro and Spynda — came to CCAC not knowing they would be joining a rejuvenated basketball program.

In recent years, a hardwood floor replaced a cement surface in the gym which led to more efforts to restart the program. After putting together last year's team with players already at the school, DeVenzio was able to recruit for this year's squad.

Michael Love is a Trib Total Media staff writer. Reach him at 412-388-5825 or at mlove@tribweb.com.