It seemed like two different games on Saturday afternoon at Glendale Community College, as the depleted host Gauchos (5-9) took on visiting Tohono O'odham Junior College (6-12). Glendale JC went into Saturday's match-up without the services of numerous players from this year's team and losers of their last four games, while Tohono JC was looking for their first road win of their school's young history.
Glendale JC head coach Damin Lopez, a former division-I assistant coach from Pepperdine University and a former Arizona high school basketball legend, has worked very hard this season keeping his team together and also competitive, amidst having many of his team's top prospects out for the season. Injuries and academic troubles have plagued Lopez's team this season, as he has several of his pre-season starters now red-shirting for the season.
Glendale JC would come out and play inspired basketball early in the game, as 5-foot-9 freshman guard Anthony Hendrix would come out firing and playing at a high level for the Gauchos. Hendrix has been a major bright spot for Glendale this season and his play in Saturday's game told the story. Hendrix would knock down consecutive three-pointers early in the game to give Glendale a quick lead.
Lopez would then insert 6-foot-1 freshman guard Michael Barry into his lineup, the team's leading scorer this season (16.2 ppg) and another major bright spot for the Gauchos. Barry would immediately knock down a mid-range jump shot from the wing. After another three-pointer from Hendrix, then a steal by Hendrix and a mid-range jumper from Barry in transition, Glendale would jump out to a 15-8 lead with 12:39 left in the first half.
After two more consecutive mid-range jump shots from the top of the key for Hendrix, Glendale would build their biggest lead of the game - an 11-point margin, 30-19, with 5:58 left to play in the first half.
With Tohono O'odham struggling to find their offense, animated Tohono head coach Matt Vargas would rally his team together and urge them to fight, and fight they would. Tohono would close the gap late in the half - going on an 11-2 run to close out the half.
Glendale would hold on to a narrow 32-30 lead at halftime.
Glendale's Hendrix would pick up his terrific shooting exhibition in the second half, as his jumper from the corner would give Glendale a 38-34 lead with 16:17 left to play.
Tohono would continue their strong play in the second half, and would turn the tide. Tohono would take their first lead of the game after a 9 to 4 run with 14 minutes left to play. A layup in transition from Tohono's 6-foot-3 guard Ruben Silvas, and then another transition layup from Silvas would give Tohono their biggest lead of the game - 47-42 with 12:54 left to play. After two more free-throws from 6-foot-2 freshman guard Cesar Solis and another 12 to 6 run by Tohono, Tohono would then build a 10-point lead, 61-51, with 7 minutes left to play in the game.
Tohono's 6-foot-8 freshman forward Christian Thompson would then close out the win for Tohono in the final 5 minutes of the game. Thompson would convert consecutive transition layups, and then make a nice spin move in the lane around a defender and finish a layup to give Tohono a big 73-62 lead with 1:35 left in regulation.
Tohono would go on to win the game 78-68 - their first road win of the school's young history.
Thompson would finish the game with 21 points and 7 rebounds.
"This is a big win for our program," said Tohono head coach Matt Vargas after the game. "This win is big for our community, our culture. There is a lot that has gone into this program."
Recruiting Notes: Tohono's 6-foot-8 freshman forward Christian Thompson is currently receiving interest from from Eastern Washington and Saint Mary's-San Antonio College. Thompson was a high school qualifer from Arcadia HS and will be eligible to attend a four-year college program next season - giving him 3 years of eligibility at the next level.
Glendale JC 6-foot-3 freshman guard Enoch Rhemadji was injured for Saturday's game (achilles), but plans to return to action in the very near future, although it is still unclear when.
Glendale JC's ultra-talented 6-foot-5 sophomore wing Ronald March, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard J'my Holloway and 6-foot-4 sophomore guard Emery Range are each red-shirting this season for the Gauchos.
