After rallying late to win an overtime game the night before, No. 6 Pima Community College tried to exert energy to overcome No. 4 Overland Park (Kan.) Johnson County in the fourth quarter Saturday in the NJCAA Division II championship game at Joplin, Mo.
The challenge and Johnson County proved to be too tough to overcome in a 75-67 loss.
Pima, which finished its season 29-6, had its 12-game winning streak and its hope for its first national championship come to an end.
The Aztecs returned to the national championship for the second time, the first since 2011 when the program played Moore (N.Y.) with the likes of Nadi Carey and Deanna Daniels.
.@PimaWBB with the NJCAA Division II national championship runner-up trophy. The Aztecs' Rori Hoffmeyer and Kiley Sours-Miller were also named to the all-tournament team. pic.twitter.com/WhRMna396B
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 23, 2025
Pima’s game with Johnson County was tight most of the way with 16 lead changes and 12 ties but the Cavaliers gained separation in the fourth quarter.
Johnson County took a 55-53 lead into the fourth quarter after Aa’Mya Stacker made a jump shot with 2 seconds left in the third quarter.
Layla Scott, the NJCAA Division II national tournament MVP, made a 3-pointer to increase the lead to 58-53 with 9:36 remaining.
Jamya McPherson ended the 7-0 run with a jumper with 8:53 to put Johnson County ahead 60-53.
Scott’s third 3-pointer of the quarter put Johnson County ahead 66-57 with 6:03 remaining.
Sabino graduate Amelie Buffill-Gutierrez, who came off the bench to score 18 points, scored on a jump shot and then made two free throws to cut the lead to 67-63 with 2:11 left.
Johnson County (34-1) led 70-63 with 57 seconds left, which was about the time Pima rallied from an eight-point deficit the night before in the 115-112 overtime win over Baltimore CCBC Essex.
Against Johnson County, it appeared Pima did not have the legs under them to get strong shots off around the basket.
The Aztecs missed three straight put-back attempts between 42 seconds and 33 seconds remaining, failing to cut into Johnson County’s 70-63 lead.
Buffill-Gutierrez made a jumper with 18 seconds left to cut the lead to 71-65 but Kara Stricklin followed with two free throws to secure the victory.
Rori Hoffmeyer (12 points and six rebounds) was the only other player for Pima to score in double figures.
Hoffmeyer and Kyile Sours–Miller (nine points and nine rebounds) were selected to the All-NJCAA Division II tournament team.
Sours-Miller had 31 points and nine rebounds in the win over CCBC Essex.
Melicia Nelson finished with eight points and 14 assists against Johnson County.
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