Cochise College and Phoenix College both advanced to their respective Division-I and Division-II national tournaments this month, after both programs won their region bids this season in the Arizona Community College Athletic Association (ACCAC).
Cochise College (23-11) and head coach Jerry Carrillo won the Division-I, Region I tournament championship in the ACCAC this season after defeating Mesa JC, 83-74. Cochise would then lose to College of Southern Idaho in narrow fashion, 63-65, before falling in the first round of the national tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas, to Vincennes University - 90-60.
For the 3rd consecutive year and the 7th time in 11 seasons, Phoenix College (30-6) and head coach Matt Gordon won the Region-I Division-II title. The program also won the ACCAC regular season title this season as well under Gordon and his staff. With the championship victory, Phoenix College earned their third straight trip to Danville, Illinois - site of the 2015 NJCAA Division-II Men’s Basketball Championships.
Looking to defend their national championship from last season (2013-2014), which was the first NJCAA Men’s Basketball national title ever won by an Arizona team, Phoenix College faired very well - finishing 3-1 in the tournament. After winning their first two contests against Southeast Community College (81-51) and Lakeland Community College (81-65), Phoenix College would fall to Richard Bland College, 87-85.
Phoenix College would then defeat Des Moines Area Community College, 82-73, in their final game of the season.
Congratulations to Cochise College on their strong finish to the junior college season, and also to Phoenix College and their staff on another amazing season - the best two years in Phoenix College basketball history.
