Championships for Pima Community College with Todd Holthaus as head coach are a common sight — 11 times after Friday night’s victory against rival Mesa — but that vision was almost obscured by a heart-rhythm problem for Holthaus last summer.
“It’s been a hard year personally just because of the health stuff,” Holthaus said after the 80-73 win at West Campus Aztec Gym. “There was a point this summer I didn’t know if I was going to be able to coach.
“For us to be standing here today, I’m just so proud and so happy. I’m blessed.”
Holthaus mentioned he endured a “number of procedures” after it was diagnosed that his heart was in Atrial fibrillation, a condition in which the heart’s upper chambers beat irregularly and often rapidly. That could lead to complications such as stroke or heart failure if left untreated.
His father passed away at age 50 from a heart attack.
.@AztecCoachTodd Holthaus went from not knowing if he could coach this season because of complications with his heart to leading the program to his 10th region/district championship with the 80-73 win over rival Mesa. pic.twitter.com/XLM9JZtmOT
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 7, 2026
“The (cardiac) ablation on June 16 did the trick, and I’ve been great ever since,” Holthaus said of the procedure that corrected abnormal electrical signals causing arrhythmias. “Lose a few pounds, eat a little smarter, take care of myself a little better … I feel great. It made it all worth it.”
A few minutes before speaking of his corrected heart condition, Holthaus climbed to the top of a latter and was ready to snip the last pieces of the net before turning to the crowd that was celebrating on the court.
He announced the net was going to legendary assistant coach Jim Rosborough, who is retiring because of health reasons related to his lungs.
“Anybody who knows me, knows how much that man means to me,” Holthaus said. “I’m so happy we got to cut the net for him tonight.”
He looked above as if in prayer, said, “Thank you so much.”
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Class move: While cutting down the last of the net after @PimaWBB’s region championship victory, @AztecCoachTodd announced the net will go home with retiring assistant coach Jim Rosborough. All assistant coaches – Rosborough, Pete Fajardo, Felicia Greenhouse and Leon Stallworth -… pic.twitter.com/RDv8jYy8np
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 7, 2026
Of the 11 region or district championships won by Pima under Holthaus since he was hired in 2007, seven have come against Mesa.
The Aztecs have defeated Mesa the last two years in the NJCAA Region I, District II championship, including last year’s game at Mesa.
Pima is 2-4 in championship games at Mesa under Holthaus.
The Thunderbirds have not defeated Holthaus’ teams in a title game in Tucson.
The Aztecs are 5-0 against Mesa in championship games at the West Campus Aztec Gym following Thursday’s victory.
“I just have the most respect for them because it’s just a great game,” Holthaus said of Mesa. “Two well-coached teams, hard-fought, both (teams) play their butts off … it always feels ood when you come out on the winning end of a great game.
“Props to them. I’m super proud of our girls and their journey we’ve been on.”
NJCAA REGION I, DIVISION II TITLES SINCE HOLTHAUS HIRED AT PIMA IN 2007
| Season | Champion | Notable |
| 2025-26 | Pima | Beat visting Mesa |
| 2024-25 | Pima | Won at Mesa |
| 2023-24 | Mesa | |
| 2022-23 | Pima | |
| 2021-22 | Mesa | Beat visiting Pima |
| 2020-21 | Pima | District title during COVID-19 |
| 2019-20 | Pima | Won at Mesa |
| 2018-19 | Pima | Beat visiting Mesa |
| 2017-18 | Mesa | Beat visiting Pima |
| 2016-17 | Pima | |
| 2015-16 | Pima | Beat visiting Mesa |
| 2014-15 | Phoenix | |
| 2013-14 | Mesa | Beat visiting Pima |
| 2012-13 | Phoenix | |
| 2011-12 | Mesa | Beat visiting Pima |
| 2010-11 | Pima | Beat visiting Mesa |
| 2009-10 | Pima | Beat visiting Mesa |
| 2008-09 | Pima | |
| 2007-08 | Mesa |
PIMA WINS SECOND STRAIGHT REGION CHAMPIONSHIP
Aztecs defeat Mesa 80-73.
Bedlam here. pic.twitter.com/i4ZlN2Vo7m— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 7, 2026
Mesa or Pima have won 16 region titles in the last 19 years — 10 for Pima and six for Mesa.
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The Aztecs (26-4) have won 14 straight games — beating Mesa three times in that span — heading into the NJCAA Division II national tournament from March 16-21 in Hickey, N.C. The selection show is Tuesday.
Mesa (21-8) could qualify as an at-large team.
The Aztecs and Thunderbrirds had six ties and five lead changes with neither team leading by double digits.
After Mesa took a 73-70 lead with 4:11 following two free throws by Meisha Caserio, the Aztecs held the Thunderbirds scoreless the rest of the game.
Mesa missed its last nine shots from the field after Caserio made a 3-pointer with 6:02 left.
JUCO All-American post player Kiley Sours-Miller, a two-time ACCAC Division II Player of the Year, reflects on playing her last game at the West Campus Aztec Gym with an NJCAA Region I, Division II championship. Her double-double (18 points and 13 rebounds) helped fuel the… pic.twitter.com/9JtKZF30bT
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 7, 2026
“All we talked about before the start of the game was, ‘Keep going, keep going,'” Pima All-American post player Kiley Sours-Miller said of the late surge. “Regardless if you were not having the best game of your life, we kept on going. That was the big thing of today.”
Sours-Miller earned her second ACCAC Division II Player of the Year honor, and Holthaus was selected the Coach of the Year for the third time (2009 and 2016 the other years).
Sours-Miller posted her 13th double-double this season with 18 points on 9-for-14 shooting with 13 rebounds.
Pima freshmen Reigne Waugh and Lucy Fisher scored all the points of Pima’s 10-0 run at the end of the game against Mesa.
Fisher put Pima ahead 74-73 with 2:39 left, converting a layup from a pass delivered by former Gilbert Mesquite teammate Kahlia Gonzales.
Gilbert Mesquite graduate Lucy Fisher cheered on her alma mater yesterday when it won the 4A state championship in Phoenix. Tonight, she earned a title of her own with @PimaWBB, contributing a team-high 20 points with nine rebounds and two blocked shots in the 80-73 win over Mesa… pic.twitter.com/gnT3fg6XJ8
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 7, 2026
Fisher, who had a team-high 20 points and nine rebounds, and Gonzales attended Mesquite’s 4A championhship victory over Surprise Paradise Honors on Thursday night at Phoenix’s Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum.
“We’ve been working for this all season,” Fisher said of Pima’s championship. “This was the time to bring our energy and leave it all on the floor.”
Waugh, who finished with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field with five rebounds, is the sister of former Pima standout Rylei Waugh. They are both graduates of Los Angeles Westchester High School.
Rylei transferred to San Jose State last season after one year at Pima. She was coming on strong in her second year with the Spartans, averaging 9.9 points and 5.2 rebounds a game before suffering a season-ending knee injury midway through the season.
.@PimaWBB freshman guard Reigne Waugh, a Los Angeles Westchester HS standout like her sister Rylei, now at San Jose State after playing with the Aztecs, had 14 points and five rebounds in the 80-73 win over Mesa in the NJCAA Region I, Division II championship game. pic.twitter.com/Y6l8B8mAQU
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 7, 2026
Reigne was selected to the All-ACCAC/All-Region I second team in her first year with Pima.
She has scored in double figures in 23 games and is averaging 11.9 points 6.1 rebounds.
“It’s been great, development-wise,” Reigne said of her experiencing moving from big-city high school basketball to Pima. “We work hard. The whole coaching staff — Ros, Pete (Fajardo), Fee (Felicia Greenhouse), Coach Leon (Stallworth) — they push you to be great. We couldn’t have done it without them.
“I did come from a big-city. The whole point for me and my sister was to come here and play in a great environment. We’re in a great environment. We came to work. She worked, and I’m here working too, now.”
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Pima suffered its only loss at the West Campus Aztec Gym this season against Mesa on Jan. 7 but won the next three meetings. The Aztecs finished 15-1 at home.
A major force behind Pima’s success has been sophomore guard Melicia Nelson, who continues the long line of Native American talent attracted to the program by Fajardo and Holthaus.
She was selected the MVP of the region tournament after achieving a near triple-double. She achieved her sixth double-double of the season. She had 16 points, nine rebounds, 13 assists and two steals.
She set the tone for Pima coming out of halftime with the Aztecs holding a 41-39 lead.
She produced eight points and two assists in the third quarter to help Pima lead 63-58 heading into the fourth quarter.
Melicia Nelson’s near triple-double (16 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists) earned her the MVP nomination following @PimaWBB’s NJCAA Region I, Division II championship over Mesa. Tremendous way for the sophomore to cap her performances at West Campus Aztec Gym. pic.twitter.com/o4Ngn4o5R8
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 7, 2026
“It is sweeter to cut down our nets after cutting theirs last year,” Sours-Miller said, noting the region title won at Mesa last season. “We did it for Ros. It was the sophomores’ last home game, and we had to come out and ball our hearts out.
“Melicia Nelson put us on her back and she ran, ran, ran and ran. We fed off of her energy.”
For Pima to advance to the NJCAA Division II championship again, like the Aztecs did last year, they will need the inside-outside combination of Sours-Miller and Nelson performing at a high level.
“I came out here and played with all I had and to play one last time on this floor was great,” Nelson said. “I feel ready and the girls are ready too (for the national tournament). I think we have a good group. We’re going to make a huge run again.”
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator in 2016 and is presently a special education teacher at Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
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