Arizona Western (24-8, 17-6) got it done, winning this year's Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) Division-I Championship on Monday evening, after a big 85-81 overtime victory at home over a surging Eastern Arizona Junior College program. Cochise Junior College had led the way in the ACCAC Conference standings for much of the entire junior college season, but were upset in the semi-finals by Eastern Arizona JC. In the end, Head Coach Charles Harrell and his staff would lead the Matadors to the conference title - defeating a talented Eastern Arizona program and advancing to the Region-I, Division-I Championship game.
In the contest, Arizona Western overcame a poor shooting night to win the ball game. The game was very competitive from start to finish. In the second half, Arizona Western built a double-digit lead off (12) steals, led by freshman guards Cash Williams and Jordan Green who combined for 9 of the 12 steals.
Gifted sophomore combo-guard Alfonso Plummer (pictured) got hot late in the second half and hit (3) three-pointers to help lead Arizona Western to the victory. Plummer finished with a game-high 23 points and 9 rebounds, and was selected as the game's Most Valuable Player. Talented 6-foot-9 sophomore forward Andre Allen (University of Buffalo signee) finished with 15 points and 7 rebounds in the win.
Eastern Arizona's had (5) players in double figures, led by Nathaniel Pollard who had a big game - finishing with 19 points and 17 rebounds in the loss.
The championship win gives Arizona Western Head Coach Charles Harrell and his staff their third consecutive trip to the Region-I Finals.
Arizona Western will now face Snow College (UT) in the Region-I Championship game on Saturday evening @ 7:30PM on the AWC campus for the right to go to Hutchinson, Kansas, for the NJCAA National Tournament.
