The 2023-2024 junior college basketball season for the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) is now winding down, as we prepare to enter the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) Tournament, now that the regular season for the conference has now come to an end. With the conclusion of this year's regular season, Eastern Arizona is the 2024 Region Division-I Champion, while Chandler-Gilbert is this year's Division-II Region Champion.
Eastern Arizona (24-6, 17-2) won this year's ACCAC Region-I Title in fine fashion this junior college season, as the program won the league from start to finish this season - leading the way all season long in the standings. Eastern Arizona Head Coach Cameron Turner was also selected as the 2024 ACCAC D-I Coach of the Year. Eastern Arizona will now enter the conference tournament this weekend, where they will face #4 seed Yavapai College. Eastern Arizona has been the class of the ACCAC all season, and if they can win the Region Tournament and advance to face the winner of Region-13, they have the talent on their roster and are deep enough to make it to Hutchinson, Kansas this season. This year's Eastern Arizona program gives the ACCAC their best chance in many years to advance to the national tournament. In the other semi-final match-up this weekend, #2 seed Cochise will face #3 seed Arizona Western in another exciting rivalry match-up.
Chandler-Gilbert edged out Pima for the 2024 ACACC Division-II Title, after both programs tied for their conference records. Chandler-Gilbert held the tie-breaker, essentially winning the title as a result. Chandler-Gilbert Head Coach Steve Silsby also earned ACCAC Division-II Coach of the Year honors. Chandler-Gilbert 6-foot-7 sophomore forward Andre Harris also was selected as the ACCAC Division-II Player of the Year. Chandler-Gilbert will host #4 seed Scottsdale Junior College on Thursday evening for the opportunity to advance to the conference final. In the other semi-final, #2 seed Pima Community College and #3 seed Glendale Community College will face off, in an exciting match-up of coaches, as Brian Peabody and Ken Carrillo face off in a coaching war. These two have competed with one another for many years, so this game will be exciting as always.
If Chandler-Gilbert and Pima happen to advance to the ACCAC D-II Final, it will make for an exciting championship game this weekend, as both teams would get to settle their tie-breaker on the basketball court, rather than analytically. I am definitely looking forward to seeing that one, if if does take place.
ACCAC Players of the Week - Week 17
ACCAC D-I Player of the Week - Jalen Barbee – Cochise – Barbee scored 38 points in two Cochise victories, helping Cochise to a weekend sweep of Yavapai. Barbee played 72 minutes in the two games and hauled in 22 rebounds. Barbee started the weekend with 9 points and 7 rebounds in a win over the Roughriders, and followed it up with a double-double, scoring 22 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in another win over Yavapai.
ACCAC D-II Player of the Week - Travas Broady – Scottsdale – Broady scored 21 points in Scottsdale’s final game of the regular season, a 78-76 loss to Glendale. Broady went 9-for-17 from the field and hit a pair of threes, while recording 8 rebounds.
DI Men’s Region Playoffs
Semi-Final - #3 Arizona Western @ #2 Cochise – March 9, 7:00 pm
Semi-Final - #4 Yavapai @ #1 Eastern Arizona – March 9, 7:00 pm
Final – Semifinals winners at highest remaining seed – March 11, Time TBD
DII Men’s Region Playoffs
Semi-Final - #3 Glendale at #2 Pima – March 7, 7:00 pm
Semi-Final - #4 Scottsdale at #1 Chandler-Gilbert – March 7, 7:00 pm
Final – Semifinals winners at highest remaining seed – March 9, Time TBD
