The Pima Community College men’s basketball season came to an end Feb. 24 when the Aztecs hosted Arizona Western College.

Unable to turn things around after the first half, the team fell 82-56.

Sophomore guard Stefan Orepeza scored a team-high 13 points for the Aztecs, while freshman guard Rodney Clark contributed 11.

Freshman guard Domineik Banks had eight points, six assists and six rebounds in the loss.

On Feb. 21, Pima narrowly lost to Glendale Community College, 86-82.

The Aztecs failed to make the playoffs, finishing the season with an overall record of 4-25.

The Aztecs have had three different head coaches in three years.

The head coach this season was Gabriel Van Guse, a former assistant head coach at Yavapai College.

The Pima Community College women’s basketball team recently pulled out two home victories and dropped a road contest to put them at 17-10 for the season.

The No. 19 Aztecs defeated Mesa Community College 65-42 on Feb. 8. The team was led by freshman A’jha Edwards who had 24 points and 15 rebounds. Sophomore Na’Derra Carey also added 16 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.

The Aztecs defeated South Mountain Community College 71-59 on Feb 15.

Edwards notched another double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Carey tallied 12 points, six rebounds, seven assists and three steals.

Sophomore forward Tyahnna Higgs chipped in 12 points as well.

The squad fell to Eastern Arizona College on the road falling 77-63 on Feb. 18. Edwards scored 15, while Carey finished with 12.

Higgs believes her team is ready for the regional playoffs, which begin Feb. 27.

“Since the season is coming to an end, our focus has gotten more intense every day,” Higgs said. “The freshmen have improved mentally and physically with their game. We are also more aggressive with our opponents. We’re ready to go.”

PCC was scheduled to play Glendale Community College on Feb. 21. The game took place after Aztec Press went to press.

Sophomore Na'Derra Carey goes up for a layup against Mesa Community College. Photo by LARRY GAURANO

The Aztecs came up short in their Feb. 15 game against South Mountain Community College, losing 105-97. Although they couldn’t pull off the win, the Aztecs had five players score in double figures.

Sophomore Jason Timpf was a standout player, scoring 31 points and snagging 14 rebounds. Freshman Domineik Banks had 16 points and 11 assists while freshman Rodney Clark netted 20 points and six rebounds.

The Aztecs suffered another loss Feb. 18 against Eastern Arizona College, losing 93-57. The game was a struggle from the start and the Aztecs found themselves down 42-27 at halftime.

Timpf again led the team with 16 points and eight rebounds. Banks also had another impressive game with 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

The team was scheduled to play Feb. 21 against Glendale Community College after the Aztec Press went to press.

The season is coming to an end as the Aztecs have only two games left in the regular season

Freshman Dominiek Banks powers past a South Mountain Community College defender. Photo by LARRY GAURANO.

The Pima Community College’s men’s basketball season has been anything but a slam-dunk.

The Aztecs lost a tough battle on the road against Tohono O’odham Community College 98-90, on Feb. 7. After trailing 49-39 at halftime, the Aztecs fought back and closed the gap in the second half. However, they were unable to overtake the solid play and hot shooting of TOCC.

Freshmen guards Domineik Banks led the scoring attack with 26 points. Rodney Clark added 21 points. Sophomore guards Chad Arechiga and Kris Lee also scored in double figures, with 15 and 12 points respectively. Banks also had seven assists and four steals.

Sophomore forward Jason Timpf had a solid game with eight points and 11 rebounds.

PCC hosted Central Arizona College Feb. 1, losing 108-105. The nail biter went into overtime with the Aztecs unable to clench the victory.

The team played Feb. 8 against Mesa Community College, which is 14-8 this season. The game took place after the Aztec Press went to press.

Photo by Larry Gaurano

By ANDRIA SKANSE

Pima Community College men’s basketball team took on Chandler-Gilbert Community College on Jan. 21 but still has yet to win a game in over a month.

The Aztecs experienced a heartbreaking defeat, 106-68 against the Coyotes.

Pima’s last win was Dec. 7 against Tohono O’odham Community College winning by 24 points.

Arizona Western College proved no different as PCC lost 52-71, Jan. 18.

Pima fell short on Jan. 14 against Glendale Community College, as they were unable to get the win yet again.

GCC won the game 90-59 presenting PCC with another upset.

Pima has four returning players this season, including two guards and two forwards. Tucson natives guard Stefan Oropeza and forward Jason Timpf. Also returning from Durham, N.C. guard Kris Lee and from Phoenix forward Shabaz Lewis.

ON DECK

 Jan. 28: @ Phoenix College, Phoenix, 4:00 p.m.

Feb. 1: Central Arizona College @ Pima

Feb. 4: @ Tohono O’Odham Community College, Sells, Ariz. 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 8: @ Mesa Community College, Mesa, Ariz. 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 11: Cochise College @ Pima, 4 p.m.

Larry Gaurano/ Aztec Press

Pima Community College’s men’s basketball team broke a two-game losing streak on Wednesday, Dec. 7. Pima had four players score double-digit points in the home game against Tohono O’Odahm CC.

Freshman guard Javont Byrd led all scorers  with 39 points. Freshman forward Charles Croxen scored 10 points while sophomore forward Shabaz Lewis and freshman guard Domineik Banks both put in 16 points in the 107-83 win.

 PCC was unable to defeat Central Arizona College on Dec. 3.

 The 108-76 conference loss brought the men’s record to 2-6 on the season and 1-3 in conference play.

 Aztec freshman guard Rodney Clark continued to lead the way in scoring for Pima with 26 points in the road loss.

 Sophomore guard Chad Arechiga helped out by contributing 12 additional points.  Byrd and Lewis chipped in 10 points each in the game.

 On Nov. 30, Pima played without head coach Gabriel Van Guse, who was serving a suspension for committing two technical fouls in their previous game. Assistant coach Chris Klassen filled in for Van Guse in the home game against Phoenix College.

 Arechiga led the way for Pima as he managed 19 points in the 78-66 loss.

 Eight games into the season, the Aztec’s scoring leader is Clark, who is averaging 14.25 points per game. Clark does most of his damage from beyond the three-point arc, knocking down 26 three-pointers this season.

 Clark’s 114 points are tops on the team but teammate Byrd is not far behind, averaging 12 points per game with 96 on the year.

 Freshman guard Emery Range is leading the team in rebounding with a 4.6 per game average.Range also leads the team with five blocks this season.

Banks is leading the team with 22 assists, averaging just under three per game. The freshman guard  is also contributing on defense, with a team-leading 16 steals this year.

 On Deck

 Dec. 9: @ Sells vs. Salt Lake City CC, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 10: vs. Mesa CC, 4 p.m.

Dec. 16: vs. New Mexico Junior College, 7 p.m.

Aztec guard Buka Sebastian

After 149 days, National Basketball Association owners and players made a deal.

Of course the argument was over money, causing the season to postpone and forcing fans to watch the next most entertaining sport, football.

The owners got their way, after claiming they lost $300 million last season. Now owners and players will split profits 50/50. This way, the owners will have a chance to make back every cent of those losses.

The players also get some of these winnings and won on issues like minimum team salary and escrow.

A 66-game season will begin on Christmas Day, giving NBA fans the best gift they could ask for.

Games will be scheduled more frequently, often back to back. This should be nice for younger teams like the Thunder. Older teams like the Spurs or Lakers might not be able to keep up.

Anything to prevent the Lakers from getting that ring, I am OK with.

To put the icing on the cake, we’ll be able to watch the University of Arizona’s very own Derrick Williams ball in the big league with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Most importantly, though, the highly anticipated annual All-Star game will still follow through as planned. It will be held on Feb. 26, 2012.

It took awhile but, hey, the NBA’s back!

The Pima Community College women’s basketball team got the conference season rolling with back-to-back conference wins.

“I like the way we’re competing,” head coach Todd Holthaus said. “we still have areas where we can improve.”

PCC played their first conference road game on Nov. 19 against Scottsdale Community College. Sophomore point guard Naderra Cary returned from an ankle injury and played well scoring four points with six assists and 11 rebounds.

Sophomore forward Tyahnna Higgs and freshman guard Desiree’ Phillips were the team leaders with 11 points each. Higgs also had eight rebounds.

Freshman center A’jha Edwards earned a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Pima was able to hold SCC to just 13 points in the second half and won their second straight conference game with a score of 47-33.

“We have a lot of freshman that are getting used to the game speed of college basketball,” assistant coach Ken Leikem said.

PCC opened up conference play on Nov. 16 against the Chandler-Gilbert Community College Coyotes. The Aztecs impressed the home crowd with a 20-point victory.

PCC was without veteran point guard Carey, who sat out with an ankle injury. Freshman guard Ashlei Scott filled in with 10 points.

Higgs made seven of 10 shots and led PCC with 14 points. Edwards had 13 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots. Phillips also scored 13 points in the 77-57 win.

The Aztecs played their first home game of the season against the Davis Monthan Air Force Base Mustangs on Nov. 10.

“We missed a lot of free throws against Davis-Monthan,” Holthaus said, “with Carey out the team didn’t have their go-to player.”

Pima started the game strong and led 34-29 at halftime. Higgs led the Aztecs in scoring with ten points while freshman forward Mya Perrow Donovan had eight points and 13 rebounds.

As a team the Aztecs shot 20 percent in the second half and lost the game 63-59.

PCC is now 2-0 in conference and 3-3 on the season; they will continue conference play when they host the Phoenix College Bears on Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m.

Aztec freshman guard Ebonee Rhymes.

By JOEL GANTT

The Pima Community College women’s basketball team started its season with one win and two losses during three challenging tournament games in Hobbs, N.M.

“The New Mexico tournament is filled with Division I competition,” head coach Todd Holthaus said. “It is a good challenge for us to start the season.”

Freshman forward Mya Perrow Donovan, a team leader in points and rebounds all weekend, was named to the All-Tournament team.

Pima played its final game of the tournament on Oct. 5 in a 56-88 loss against New Mexico Junior College, a National Junior College Athletic Association Division I opponent.

After a tough opening half, the Aztecs kept pace with NMJC in the second half thanks to freshman center A’jha Edwards. She had a team-leading 10 points and eight rebounds in the game.

Sophomore forward Tyahnna Higgs was the Aztec’s second-leading scorer with nine points. She also had four rebounds.

Donovan had six points and eight rebounds.

On Oct. 4, Pima dominated Lubbock Christian University’s junior varsity squad. Pima led 52-17 at the half and did not let up. The final score was 96-26 in the Aztec’s first win of the season.

Edwards posted her first career double-double, leading all players with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard Naderra Carey had a solid game with eight points, five rebounds and five assists. Sophomore guard Alyssa Wilson contributed 12 points

The Aztecs’ season opener Oct. 3 was against NJCAA Division I school Western Texas College of Snyder, Texas. Pima lost 50-65.

Donovan led the team with 10 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Higgs also played well with eight points and five rebounds.

The Aztecs play their first home game of the season against a Davis Monthan Air Force Base team on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 6:30 p.m. in the West Campus gymnasium.

Admission to the game will be $5 for adults and $3 for Pima students.

Kellie Miller, freshman forward, tries for points in a scrimmage game.

Men start season 1-1

By MEGYN FITZGERALD

The Pima Community College men’s basketball team dropped the season opener Nov. 4 in a 92-75 loss against Westwind Prep, but redeemed themselves the following day with a 93-74 win against Arizona College Prep.

In Pima’s first win of the season, freshman guard Jaleel Grey led the way for the Aztecs by scoring 27 points.

Freshman guard Emery Range scored 13 points while also grabbing eight rebounds and making three blocks.

Pima out-rebounded ACP 58-39 and forced 30 turnovers.

Sophomore guards Kris Lee and Vonchae Richardson each contributed 11 points. Richardson came close to a triple-double by also chipping in nine rebounds and seven assists.

On Nov. 4, freshman guard Javonte Byrd played well in his college debut, scoring 19 points, grabbing four rebounds and contributing three assists.

Sophomore guard Vonchae Richardson scored 18 points in the loss. Freshman guard Domineik Banks also scored in double digits, bringing in 12 points for the Aztec men.

The Aztecs will travel to New Mexico on Nov. 11 to take on New Mexico Military Institute. They’ll play Odessa College the next day.

Returning player Stefan Orepeza takes on his opponent in 2010.