The 2023 Junior College season is winding down in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC), and two junior college programs are on terrific win streaks in the conference. Cochise Junior College (21-2, 15-0) is having an excellent season this year, and has won 19-straight games on the season. Scottsdale Junior College (19-4, 11-4) has hit their stride this junior college season, and has won (13) straight games this season. Both junior college programs are in the lead for their respective Conference Titles this season in the ACCAC.
Cochise Head Coach Jerry Carrillo has been known as the Godfather of the ACCAC for many years, as he has posted numerous conference titles and championships in the conference. This season is another special season for Carrillo and his staff, as his program has completely dominated the conference this season, going undefeated through the junior college season. Led by the play of 6-foot-4 sophomore guard Tyreese Watson, who is averaging 19 points per/game and shooting 44% from the field, and also 6-foot-10 sophomore post Oscar Cluff (Washington State signee), who is pouring in 17.9 points and 9.1 rebounds, while shooting an amazing 74.5% from the field. The Cochise team has been extremely impressive this junior college season, even without the services of 6-foot-7 starting sophomore forward Stephen Byard (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi signee), who was released from the team earlier this season.
Cochise has not missed a beat during conference play, but the absence of Byard will definitely present issues down the stretch, if Cochise is to make it to the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas this spring. Cochise currently holds on to a (5) game lead among Division-I junior college programs in the ACCAC, and is a lock to win this year's ACCAC Regular Season Title. They have been terrific this season and will add another banner to the Cochise gymnasium, as Coach Carrillo continues to lead the program with a high level of intensity.
Scottsdale has also been very impressive, as the program is playing their best basketball of the season - winners of their last (13) games. Scottsdale Head Coach Mark Bunker has his best team ever on paper, and his players are living up to their potential. Even without the services of 6-foot-8 sophomore wing Isaiah Broady for some games due to academic ineligibility, the team pushed through and did not miss a beat. Led by the play of the conference's best backcourt, sophomore guards Carson Kelly and Unisa Turay, and the play of 6-foot-6 sophomore forward Cameron Faas, this team has rolled this junior college season with big wins recently over Arizona Western on the road in double-overtime and also a big home win last week over Pima Junior College.
Now with Broady back in the lineup, this team should be very tough to beat the remainder of the season, but will still need to overcome Chandler-Gilbert, who is currently tied with them for first place among Division-II programs in the ACCAC. Pima is just one game behind these two now, so the race for the Division-II title will be fierce for the last (7) games of the regular season.
I will continue keeping a close eye on these two junior college programs and all the programs in the ACCAC, as the season continues to wind down - bringing you updates as they continue to develop.
