The Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) was on full display this weekend, as both Pima Community College and Cochise College both captured major postseason victories, and now find themselves on the doorstep of national tournament play. For Pima, the victory was historic as the Aztecs captured their third consecutive NJCAA Region-I Division-II Championship on Saturday with an emphatic 74–49 victory over Scottsdale Community College, completing a remarkable 32-0 perfect season. With the win, Pima secured both the Region I and West District titles, earning an automatic berth into the NJCAA Division-II National Championship, which will be held March 16–21 at the Mary Miller Center in Danville, Illinois.
It marks yet another milestone for a program that has developed into one of the premier junior college programs in the country under Legendary Head Coach Brian Peabody. This season also brought significant recognition for the program across the conference, as Peabody was named ACCAC Coach of the Year, while numerous Pima players earned All-ACCAC First Team honors.
The championship victory over Scottsdale was never in doubt, as Pima imposed their will immediately - going on a devastating 17-0 run that spanned nearly seven minutes, and building a commanding 20-2 lead early in the game. The Aztecs’ relentless defense and transition offense set the tone, and by halftime, Pima had stretched the lead to 37-19.
The Aztecs continued to dominate in the second half, taking their largest lead of the game at 55-28, after star freshman point guard Isaiah Hill connected on a three-pointer with 13:09 remaining. Pima’s balanced attack was led by 6-foot-7 sophomore Mason Hunt, one of the top junior college prospects in the country. Hunt delivered a standout performance with a game-high 19 points on 7-of-17 shooting - earning Region-I Division-II Finals Most Valuable Player honors.
Hunt credited the team’s defensive effort for the fast start.
“It was really our defense that was holding it down,” Hunt said. “They (Scottsdale) started to score a bit, but we just had to get back to what we do in the second half, and we got the win.”
Hill also delivered an extraordinary all-around performance, finishing with 16 points, 18 assists, six rebounds, four steals, and three blocks. The dynamic guard is coming off a season in which he was named both ACCAC D-II Player of the Year and ACCAC D-II Freshman of the Year. Sophomore Isaac Johnson also made a major impact, scoring 14 points on an efficient 7-of-8 shooting while adding 9 rebounds.
Hunt, Johnson, and Brock Mendoza represent the three returning sophomores from last season’s undefeated squad that finished 35-1 and ranked No. 3 nationally after going 32-0 in the regular season. With this year’s perfect run, the trio has completed an astonishing 64-0 record in regular season games over the past two seasons, including a 36-0 record in ACCAC conference play. The championship also marks the sixth Region I / West District title for the program under Peabody, and the second time during his tenure that Pima has achieved a three-peat, after previously winning three consecutive titles from 2016 through 2019.
Now, the Aztecs will look to finish the job. After coming close last season, Pima enters the national tournament with its sights firmly set on bringing home a national championship.
Cochise Claims Region I Title, Advances Toward National Tournament
While Pima secured its national tournament berth, Cochise College also enjoyed a dominant weekend of its own. Cochise captured the NJCAA Region-I Championship on Saturday night with a convincing 102-76 victory over the College of Southern Nevada on their home floor in Douglas, Arizona. With the win, Cochise improved to 21-11 overall and advanced to the NJCAA West District Championship, where they will host College of Southern Idaho on Saturday, March 14. The winner of that game will earn a berth into the NJCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship Tournament.
Cochise controlled the contest early, establishing momentum in the first half behind balanced scoring and strong defensive play. The Apaches built a 45-37 halftime lead before breaking the game open in the second half. Cochise shot an impressive 58 percent from the field for the game, and showcased its offensive depth with five players scoring in double figures. Sophomore guard Jhace Johnson led the way with 22 points and 5 assists, orchestrating the offense throughout the night. Freshman Emmanuel Joe Samuel added 21 points, and knocking down five three-pointers, while freshman Teron Murray contributed 20 points and 7 rebounds in the decisive victory.
The offensive balance and efficient shooting proved too much for Southern Nevada to overcome, as Cochise pulled away in the second half to secure the Region-I crown.
Now, with the season on the line, the Apaches will turn their attention to the upcoming showdown with Southern Idaho, with a national tournament berth hanging in the balance.
