With the holiday break upon us in the ACCAC, (3) different junior college programs are currently tied for the lead in the conference, as the new 2020 year will begin in January with 5-1 league records - Scottsdale, Mesa and Arizona Western Junior College.
Scottsdale JC (12-1, 5-1) heads the group as the program, led by Head Coach Mark Bunker, has posted an impressive 12-1 overall record this season, following wins over Phoenix College (91-73), and also Planet Athlete Post Grads (105-69). In the win over Phoenix College, 6-foot-5 sophomore Xavier Fuller (pictured), tied for the ACCAC conference scoring lead, poured in another strong effort - finishing with a game-high 30 points (making 13-for-17 from the field), while Phoenix College's sophomore guard Tre Mitchell had 25 points of his own.
Against Planet Athlete, Fuller had another 20 points, while 6-foot-4 sophomore guard Boogie Anderson scored a game-high 24 points (11 of 13 from the field), as the Scottsdale team 60% from the field as a team.
Mesa Junior College (8-3, 5-1) has been on fire this season as well, behind the leadership of legendary Head Coach Sam Ballard. Mesa had a big road win over Cochise Junior College last week, 72-64, as Rajhan Billingsley scored a team-high 19 points in the win, despite a game-high 29 points from 6-foot-8 sophomore forward Naje Smith.
Arizona Western (11-3, 5-1) split a pair of ACCAC league games last week, losing to Pima, 87-79, and then defeating Chandler-Gilbert, 51-48. Sophomore guard Cash Williams led the way in the Pima contest with 17 and freshman guard Daniel Kiely added 15. Pima JC (7-4, 4-2) was led by the play of 6-foot-5 sophomore guard Rashad Smith (Grand Canyon University signee), who finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Red-shirt freshman guard Jake Lieppert had 21 points in the loss.
Three other teams sit at 4-2 in conference play entering the holidays, led by a talented Eastern Arizona (11-2, 4-2) team. EAC narrowly defeated a tough Glendale JC team, 83-82. Sophomore guard Anthony Anderson led Eastern with 19 points and 6-foot-6 sophomore do-it-all forward Nathaniel Pollard had 18 points for EAC. Glendale CC (8-4, 4-2) had five different players in double-figures in the contest, led by Terrell Handy Johnson with 18 points.
After a tough start to the season, Pima JC won (3) times last week, defeating AZ Western, Tohono O'odham (102-84) and PHH Prep (116-95). In the win over Tohono O'odham, Jordan Robinson scored a game-high 28 points, while Lieppert added 22 points. Robinson then scored 29 points (14-for-14 from the free-throw line), as six Aztecs scored in double figures in their win over PHH Prep.
Many of the members of the ACCAC will compete over the holiday season in various holiday tournaments. Conference play will resume January 3-4.
