Information for this roundup provided by the Pima media-relations department:
MEN’S BASKETBALL
The Pima Community College men’s basketball team (20-6, 12-6 in ACCAC) could not gain the upper hand down the stretch in its game on Wednesday in Yuma at Arizona Western College (20-6, 13-5).
The No. 15 ranked Aztecs (Division II) fell to the Matadors (Division I) 82-75.
Sophomore Traivar Jackson, who earlier this week was named a NJCAA Division II All-American, came into the contest with 999 career points at Pima. He surpassed 1,000 with his first points at the 8:18 mark in the first half. He finished with 18 points and three rebounds.
Freshman Mike Pope cut it to a two-point deficit with his basket to make it 71-69 with 3:53 left in the game but the Aztecs missed their next four shot attempts, and the Matadors went on a 6-0 run to make it 77-69 with 1:03 left. Sophomore Cesar Saenz (Sabino grad) converted on a three-point play, but the Matadors scored the next five points to take their biggest lead of the game at 82-72 with 17.0 seconds to play. Arizona Western closed out the game on an 11-6 run.
The Aztecs trailed for much of the second half as their only lead came when freshman Jaylen Alexander scored to put the Aztecs up 63-62 with 7:10 left. It was short-lived as the Matadors scored the next four points to retake the advantage.
With the game tied at 25-25, the Matadors went on a 9-1 run but the Aztecs closed out the half countering with a 7-0 run as Pima trailed 34-33 at the break.
Saenz finished with a team-high 24 points on 9 for 17 shooting. He also had three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Freshman Dillan Baker (Salpointe Catholic) scored all 14 of his points in the first half. He also had seven rebounds for the game. Freshman Jamison Kay (from Yuma’s Gila Ridge) posted seven points, seven rebounds and four blocks off the bench.
The Aztecs are back on the road on Saturday as they play Glendale. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The Pima women’s basketball team (20-6, 13-5 in ACCAC) picked up its 20th win of the season on Wednesday in its road win at Arizona Western College (18-7, 11-7).
The No. 15 ranked Aztecs (Division II) defeated the Matadors 74-64 snapping their five-game winning streak. The Aztecs have won 20 or more games in seven of the last eight years. The exception was the 2020-21 pandemic season.
Up 13-11 in the first quarter, the Aztecs closed out the final 6:04 with a 15-0 run to take a 28-11 lead. The Aztecs went 11 for 18 from the field and 5 for 8 from three-point range. The Aztecs took their biggest lead of the game in the 2nd quarter when sophomore Angel Addleman (Palo Verde) scored to make it 38-17. The Aztecs led 40-23 at halftime.
With Pima up 55-35 with 3:17 left in the third quarter, the Matadors scored the final six points to gain some momentum as Pima led 57-41. The momentum carried into the fourth as Arizona Western went on a 18-6 run in the first six and a half minutes and cut Pima’s lead to four points at 63-59 with 4:29 left. The Aztecs got four free throws from sophomore Torrance Begay and a basket by Addleman to give Pima some breathing room at 69-60 at the 2:21 mark.
Freshman Rayn Holton grabbed a crucial defensive rebound and was fouled. She drained two free throws to give Pima a double-digit lead once again at 71-60 with 2:05 remaining. The Matadors cut it to seven points at 71-64 but the Aztecs hit three final free throws to seal it.
Begay finished with a game-high 24 points as she went 7 for 11 from the field and 4 for 5 from 3-point range. She also went 6 for 8 from the free throw stripe. Begay scored seven points as part of the first quarter run and six points in the fourth quarter to help preserve Pima’s lead.
Sophomore Matehya Aberle fell short of a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds while fellow sophomore Luisa Chavez (Rio Rico) flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 10 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
Addleman and sophomore Aiona Johnson each posted nine points.
The Aztecs will hit the road once again on Saturday when they play at Glendale. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.
WOMEN’S GOLF
The Pima women’s golf team teed off for its second tournament of the season on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of the Mesa Community College Invitational held at the Dobson Ranch Golf Course.
The Aztecs finished in third place with a collective score of 668 (334-334). Mesa took first place with a score of 624 (317-307) and South Mountain was second with 641 (322-319). Estrella Mountain finished fourth at 768 (378-390).
Sophomore Maria Harrouch won her first tournament of the season as she produced a two-under par 70 in the final round slipping by South Mountain’s Kylie Rehberger by one-stroke. Harrouch shot a 76 in her first round trailing by one-stroke heading into the final round. She finished with a score of 146 (76-70), going two-over par for the tournament. Rehberger shot a 147 (75-72).
Sophomore Angelica Martinez (Tucson High) closed it out finishing tied for ninth place with a score of 164 (84-80).
Freshmen Kayley Yanez (Marana) and Myranda Moreno (Tucson High) each tied for 17th place with a score of 149. Yanez produced rounds of 89 and 90 while Moreno finished with an 85 and a 94.
The Aztecs will play in the Estrella Mountain Invitational next Thursday and Friday at the Sundance Golf Club in Buckeye.
MEN’S GOLF
The Pima men’s golf team played its second tournament of the season on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of the Mesa Community College Invitational held at the Dobson Ranch Golf Course.
The No. 4 ranked Aztecs took second place with a two-day total of 583 (290-293). As a team, the Aztecs shot a collective 7-over par. South Mountain took first place as they finished with a score of five-under par 571 (288-283). The Aztecs edged out host Mesa, who took third with 585 (297-288).
Freshmen RJ Wright (Bisbee) and Herman Holst each earned medalist honors as they tied for fourth place. Wright shot an even-par 72 for his final round finishing with a 145 (73-72). Holst shot an even-par 72 in his first round, also closing out the tournament with a 145 (72-73).
Sophomore Tommy Rosenvall tied for eighth place with a two-day score of 146 (72-74) while sophomore Jay Shero and freshman Nathan Romero (Marana) each tied for 13th place with a score of 149. Shero had scores of 75 and 74 and Romero posted rounds of 73 and 76.
The Aztecs will host the Pima Invitational on February 27-28 at the Randolph North Golf Course. The teams begin to tee off at 10:30 a.m. on the first day and at 12:00 p.m. on the second day.
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