Many people around the country consistently talk about junior college programs in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) being much weaker than other top-rated junior college programs around the country. Such national programs as the College of Southern (CSI) Idaho have much higher college recruitment for the prospects on their team annually, and overall have much, much more talent on their roster than programs in the ACCAC. But late last week, in the season opener for Yavapai College, the Roughriders would prove just how good basketball is becoming again in the ACCAC, as they would stun #10 ranked College of Southern Idaho on the road, on CSI's home floor, 87-83.
In the huge win for the Arizona program, Yavapai trailed CSI by 14 points at halftime, and by as many as 17 points in the first half, before Yavapai stormed back in the second half on Thursday night - leading to the big come-from-behind victory over the #10 ranked team in the country. Last season, CSI compiled an undefeated 20-0 record at home during the regular season.
Thursday night's victory was also first-year Head Coach Kevon Davis' first win as new Head Coach @ Yavapai College, and a huge victory it was for a program that is looking to rebuild a great deal after a subpar season last year, the first season back in action for the Yavapai basketball program since 2011.
"I'm very proud of our team," said Davis after the big win. "It is a special moment for our kids and for our community. We hope to build on this win."
The early-season win over CSI for Yavapai proved the immediate value of Coach Davis, who is doing an excellent job in quick fashion, after taking over the Yavapai program late in the summer. Davis has had to overcome major budget issues from last year, and also quickly build a team for the season. It looks as though he is doing an excellent job at both.
6-foot-3 sophomore guard Ray Glasgow (pictured), a native of the Bronx, New York, led the way in the victory over CSI for Yavapai - leading all scorers with 25 points. 6-foot-4 sophomore Tym Richardson had 19 points, while 6-foot freshman guard Nadir Myers and 6-foot-3 freshman guard Khalil O'Bannon also had 12.
Since the win over CSI, Yavapai would go on to fall to #24 ranked Lee College Friday afternoon in the Idaho Central Credit Union Invitational, 93-60, before then returning on Saturday and defeating Northwest College, after a dramatic 80-77 final, on a game-winning three-pointer by Ray Glasgow with 1.8 seconds left on the clock.
The 2023-2024 junior college basketball season is underway.
