(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College men’s basketball team (31-0) took care of business on its home floor on Thursday in the Region I, Division II Semifinals.
The No. 1 seeded Aztecs defeated No. 4 Glendale Community College 108-70 to advance to their third straight Region I, Division II Finals where Pima will host Scottsdale Community College on Saturday.
The Aztecs caught fire from beyond the arc to take control in the first half. They took their first double digit lead at 15-5 five minutes into the half after a basket by sophomore Brock Mendoza. Up 27-17, the Aztecs went on a 10-0 run that was led by a three-pointer, and a four-point play by sophomore Mason Hunt (Bradshaw Mountain HS), as well as a three-ball by freshman Rowan McKenzie (Boulder Creek HS) to make it 37-17.
Hunt drained his sixth 3-pointer of the half to make it 60-34 and McKenzie capped off the half with another shot from beyond the arc to give Pima a 63-37 lead at the break. The Aztecs went 23-for-40 (57.5 percent) from the field and 12-for-21 (57.1 percent) from downtown in the first half.
The Aztecs led by as much as 38 points at the end of the game and outscored the Gauchos (18-12) 45-33 in the second half.
Hunt scored 23 of his 25 points in the first half as he shot 8-for-12 from the field and 6-for-10 from three-point range in the first half. He closed out the game going 9-for-18 and 6-for-12. Hunt added four rebounds, three steals and two assists.
“My teammates were getting me the ball in the spots that I succeed in and my shots were falling,” Hunt said about his first half. “We came out hot and I was really proud of how we kept our foot on their neck. We came out in the second half and really took the life out of them. We just trusted what we do every day.”
Mendoza finished with 21 points as he was 8-for-9 from the field, 1-for-1 from three-point range and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. He completed his double-double with 10 rebounds and also added two blocks.
Sophomore Isaac Johnson shot 7-for-11 from the field with 16 points to go with six rebounds, four steals and two assists. Freshman Gerron Graham (Premier Prep Academy) also went for 16 points off the bench as he was 3-for-5 from beyond the arc and 5-for-6 from the foul line.
Freshman Will Feagles (Notre Dame Prep) also provided a spark off the bench with 13 points as he finished 5-for-9 from the field and 3-for-6 from beyond the arc. He also added five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
“Our energy on defense really translated to the offensive end. Everyone was sharing the ball. We lead the country in assists (25.8 per game) and we did that well tonight, getting everyone involved. It was the winning statement,” Feagles said.
Freshman Isaiah Hill (Premier Prep Academy) had a double-double of seven points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists to go with two steals.
The Aztecs closed out the game shooting 50 percent (38-for-76) from the field and 17-for-39 (43.6 percent) from beyond the arc.
The No. 1 seeded Aztecs will play the No. 3 seed Artichokes on Saturday for the Region I, Division II Championship. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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