Phoenix College (26-5) has been absolutely terrific the last two years - winning the Division-II national championship last year, and then returning this season to win the ACCAC Conference Championship. Phoenix College head coach Matt Gordon and his star player, terrific sophomore guard Brandon Brown, were both selected as Coach of the Year and Player of the Year selections this season.
So when Phoenix College and Scottsdale Junior College met up on Wednesday evening, it was a tale of two different programs. Phoenix College riding very high on success, while Scottsdale Junior College has yet to even name their full time head coach. Interim head coach Mark Bunker has been awesome this season - coaching a team with very little raw athletic talent. Scottsdale JC (12-19) actually overachieved this season under the leadership of Bunker and his staff.
Scottsdale would would face a tall order on Wednesday evening on the road, which included slowing down Brandon Brown. Brown has torched the ACCAC the last two years each week, and he would do the same in the playoff match-up with Scottsdale.
In the first half, Phoenix College would jump out to an early lead in the game. After leading 34 to 26 with 5:18 remainning in the first half, Phoenix College would ignite and finish on a 19 to 8 run to end the first half. The Phoenix College run would include a strong back-door, two-handed alley-oop dunk by 6-foot-4 sophomore wing Travis Meeker, and a three-pointer from the wing by freshman guard Kevin Davis.
The final 7-points of the run were created by superstar sophomore guard Brandon Brown. Brown has been unstoppable this season in the conference. Brown would score on a strong driving layup, and then knock down a three-pointer with a defender draped all over him. He would finish off the scoring drive with a ridiculous cross-over dribble and a reverse layup around two defenders.
After Brown's barrage of baskets, Phoenix College would take a 53-34 lead into halftime. They would never look back from there - winning the contest, 96-80 over Scottsdale JC.
Brandon Brown would score a game-high 24 points in the first half, and would finish the game with an amazing 37 points, 11 assists and 6 rebounds. This is the best juco point guard in America.
Phoenix College will face Tohono O-Odham JC on Friday evening (7:30PM) at home for the Division-II title. Tohono O'Odham defeated #3 seed Pima JC, 80-71. They will give Phoenix College all they can handle, as they have defeated Phoenix College twice already this season.
