Information from the Pima media relations department contributed to this report.
The No. 3-seeded Pima Community College men’s basketball team closed out the 2018-19 season on Saturday at the NJCAA Division II Tournament in Danville, Ill., with a victory over No. 12 Ancilla College (Ind.) 104-101 to claim seventh place.
After dropping the first game to Cecil (Md.) College, the Aztecs won three straight.
Sophomore Kennedy Koehler was unstoppable as he finished with his 22nd double-double of the season scoring 35 points with 21 rebounds and seven assists. He was named to the NJCAA Division II All-Tournament team.
Congratulations @KennedyKoehler on being named to the All-tournament team this weekend. Big week from the big man, over the course of 4 games s Kennedy averaged 26 points & 14 rebounds. pic.twitter.com/eNPx4JeZEE
— Pima Men's Basketball (@PimaMens_bball) March 24, 2019
Thank you to all of the sophomores that have given everything they had all season long. You will always be part of the Aztec family and we can't wait to see what the future holds for you all. It has been special watching you all grow and turn into the men you are. Go be special
— Pima Men's Basketball (@PimaMens_bball) March 23, 2019
“I feel like I’ve always been capable of that,” Koehler said on gaining double-doubles in points and rebounds. “Coach (Brian Peabody) said, ‘If you average a double-double, we will win a lot of games and it will earn you a lot of success in your future.’ We’ve been talking about Danville all year. It was a good experience. We didn’t win the first game but we bounced back the last three games, regained our focus and played like we had all season.”
Koehler averaged 26 points and 14 rebounds during the tournament.
Sophomore Abram Carrasco of Cholla High School scored 26 points with seven assists and six rebounds. He broke the Pima men’s basketball career scoring record on Mar. 6 and finished his career with 1,310 points.
#NJCAA DII Men's Basketball National Tournament 7th Place Award Photo@PimaMens_bball pic.twitter.com/RWVjiuU5O5
— NJCAA Tournament (@NJCAATournament) March 24, 2019
Freshman Rashad Smith, a Chandler Hamilton standout who may entertain offers from Division I schools during the offseason, scored 20 points on 8 for 15 shooting while sophomore Robert Wilson of Salpointe Catholic had nine points and 12 rebounds to conclude his stellar career with the Aztecs.
Pima finished the season with an overall record of 29-7 and claimed their third straight NJCAA Region I, Division II title. The Aztecs had four sophomores on this year’s squad.
Pima Nation!! Thank you to my teammates and my coaches. The last two years have been unforgettable. I’ve gained some relationships and memories that will last forever. Thank you for giving me a 2nd chance that changed my life forever. I’ll never forget you AZTEC NATION 💙#1love pic.twitter.com/acmS4EJppw
— Robby Wilson (@robbyw_19) March 23, 2019
Recommended for you
