All Entries Tagged With: "Nationals"

Online Extra: Women’s basketball finishes seventh at Nationals

Story by Eric Townsend
Photos by Daniel Gaona

The Pima Community College women’s basketball team finished a bittersweet fifth place at Nationals, as a key injury and inopportune foul trouble may have cost the team its championship dreams.

The No. 5 seed Aztecs (28-8) opened the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championships with a convincing win over unseeded Bismarck (N.D.) State College.

Using smothering defense and excellent shooting from the field, Pima players paced themselves to an 82-56 victory.

However, sophomore guard Abyee Maracigan tore her ACL early in the game. Sophomore guard Jessica Jones led Pima with 20 points and sophomore center Tia Morrison added 19 points and 15 rebounds.

“We felt better prepared for this tournament as opposed to last year,” Morrison said. “We were all new to it, but this year it wasn’t as new, so we could see that at our best we could still win.”

In the quarterfinals, Pima played No. 4 seed Schoolcraft (Mich.) College. The Aztecs led much of the game, including 37-32 at the half, but they couldn’t seal the win without their two All-Americans.

In addition to the absence of Maracigan, Morrison was in foul trouble. She managed just seven points to go with 10 rebounds.

Schoolcraft ousted Pima for the second year in a row, 65-56.

Sophomore and freshman guards Nene Villalobos and Patricia Ramos led Pima with nine points each.

Schoolcraft was seeded one spot ahead of Pima but it made a world of difference. They had a bye in the first round, while PCC lost Maracigan in their opener.

In their first consolation bracket game, Pima beat No. 8 seed Illinois Valley Community College 77-76.

Once Pima gained a 58-42 lead, the team was able to hold on. Morrison returned to form with a game-high 31 points and 19 rebounds.

Freshmen Deana Bledsoe and Ramos added with 13 and 12 points respectively.

Pima beat No. 6 seed Parkland (Ill.) College 77-65 in the fifth-place game of the 12-team tournament. Morrison scored 18 points on 7-9 shooting. Sophomore forward LeAndra Lucas scored 13 points and Villalobos scored 11.

“I’m okay with getting fifth,” Morrison said.“I just know we could have done better.”

Morrison and Lucas were named to the All-Tournament team. Morrison averaged a double-double with 18.75 points per game and 12.25 rebounds a game and Lucas averaged 7.25 and 3.25 during the tourney.

Tia Morrison

Despite losing the most successful sophomore class in school history, Morrison said the future is bright for the Aztecs.

“It’s more than just individual talent,” Morrison said. “Coach T is great at what he does so there’s no doubt the Aztecs will make it far next year.”

-James Kelley contributed to this report

Women’s Basketball Nationals
Pima: 5th place
Final record: 28-8
Bismarck State (N.D.) College: W 82-56
Schoolcraft (Mich.) College: L 65-56
Illinois Valley CC: W 77-76
Parkland (Ill.) College: W 77-65
National Champions: Kirkwood (Iowa) CC

Nationals Bracket

Online Extra: Men’s basketball puts itself on the map with 7th place finish

Story by Chris Beck
Photo by Daniel Gaona

A year ago, the Pima Community College men’s basketball team was 10-20 and had never made an appearance on the national stage.

Today, the Aztecs have turned the program around, capping a “magical” 20-16 season by placing seventh in its first trip to Nationals.

The Aztecs locked up seventh place with a 59-52 win over St. Clair County Community College. It was the team’s third win in three days.

“The way the bracket is set up, if you lose the first game, the best you can do is seventh place,” head coach Karl Pieroway said. “We were able to do that but then there is an argument that the best two teams played each other in the first game.”

Pieroway respected the talent level Lincoln had but thought things would have been different if the two had met in a later round.

“They were more than deserving of winning the championship, they are a really good team,” Pieroway said. “Looking back you kind of wish that maybe we could have played someone else in our first game and then maybe drawn Lincoln in the second round.”

The second-year coach said the team was very jittery coming into the first game and that right away it was in a hole. But a short time later, Pima was close behind.

Then, with less than 10 minutes left in the second half, star player Travares Peterson landed on his head after going up for a dunk. Pima was trailing by five points at the time.

“He took quite a spill,” Pieroway said. “That’s when you kind of forget about the game temporarily and make sure he is OK.”

The Lynx won 76-69 but the Aztecs didn’t let that affect them.

After falling to the eventual national champions, Pima won three games to sweep the consolation bracket.

The Aztecs rebounded with a 79-58 win over Mercer County College, then took down Grand Rapids Community College 74-66.

The tournament was in Danville, Ill. from March 16-20. Pieroway felt that Pima had an advantage with the crowd.

“I think it’s pretty safe to say of the 16 teams there, we were the crowd favorite for sure,” he said.

At the beginning of the season, the Aztecs weren’t supposed to do much in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference.

Expectations weren’t high after Pima finished the regular season 14-15. However, it found a rhythm and eventually won the Region Championship at Phoenix College.

Since it was the team’s first trip to the tournament ever, no one was sure what to expect. But the Aztecs ended up excelling and Pieroway was impressed.

“For our guys to get out there for the first time and to play so well in all four games was great,” Pieroway said. “I kept telling our sophomores how proud I was of them and that they were putting Pima on the national map.”

When asked about a rematch with Lincoln, Pieroway laughed.

“They’re good,” he said. “They are really, really good. I’ll say that if we were to play them a second time, I have no idea what would happen. But I do know, if we were to play them 10 times, we would not lose 10 times.”

Pieroway said he didn’t know how many games Pima might win, but Lincoln wasn’t significantly better.

“They wouldn’t beat us every time. They just happened to get us at the right time and were a little bit more ready than we were,” Pieroway said.

Sophomore forward Peterson is the most notable departure.

Peterson burst onto the scene this season, winning two conference Player of the Week awards, along with a National Player of the Week award.

Other sophomore departures include Jeremy Harden, Warren Baker, JaMier Morris and Michael Purdie.

Morris was selected to the All-Tournament team. He averaged 13.5 points per game and 5.75 assists.

Pieroway is glad to have brought success to Pima but at the same time he is aware of the downside.

“For the first time, Pima men’s basketball will be playing with a target on their back,” he said. “I’ve gone through that before and I’ll say it’s a whole different set of circumstances.”

Pieroway said the team’s approach next year will be different.

“Now there are expectations, people aren’t going to take you lightly and people aren’t going to take you for granted,” he said. ”So we definitely have to put the best product on the floor.”

Warren Baker led the team in scoring with 15 points. Daniel Conorque and Jeremy Harden both contributed to the win with double-doubles.

The Aztecs took down Grand Rapids Community College 74-66 on March 19 to secure a place in the seventh-place game.

Baker had a big game, scoring 19 point to lead the Aztecs. Sophomore guard JaMier Morris had a terrific night with 14 points and 13 assists.

JaMier Morris

The day before, PCC defeated Mercer County Community College 79-58.

Baker again led the Aztecs with 20 points, including 3-6 from beyond the arc. Freshman Ervin Felder chipped in with 10 points and six rebounds.

The opening game against Lincoln College ended 76-69, killing the Aztecs’ dream of an improbable national title. Lincoln would go on to win the title.

This opening game loss could have dampened the team’s spirits, but only inspired the squad to win out.

This season for the Aztecs is definitely one for the books. Not only did the team go from 20 losses last year to 20 wins this year, but they also made history with a trip to nationals.

The only proper way to describe this season would be an extreme success.

In only his second year as head coach, Pieroway has tasted a regional championship and finished in the top half at nationals. Not too shabby.

While Pieroway looks on to next season, many key components of the team have played their last game in an Aztec uniform.

-Daniel Gaona contributed to this report

Men’s Basketball Nationals
Pima: 7th place
Final record: 20-16
Lincoln (Ill.) College: L 76-69
Mercer County (N.J.) College: W 79-58
Grand Rapids (Mich.) CC: W 74-66
St. Clair County (Mich.) CC: W 59-52
National Champions: Lincoln (Ill.) College

Nationals Bracket

Online Extra: Women’s basketball team recovers to take fifth place

By James Kelley
Photos by Daniel Gaona

The Pima Community College women’s basketball team closed out its season with a win in the fifth-place game at Nationals.

The fifth-seeded Aztecs (28-8) beat No. 6 seed Parkland (Ill.) College 77-65 to finish fifth at the 12-team National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship Tournament.

Sophomore center Tia Morrison scored 18 points on 7-9 shooting. Sophomore forward LeAndra Lucas scored 13 points and sophomore guard NeNe Villalobos scored 11.

The win over Parkland was the Aztecs’ second in a row after a close loss to No. 4 seed Schoolcraft (Mich.) College in the second round.

Abyee Maracigan

Morrison was saddled with foul trouble and in the opening minutes of Pima’s first game, the team lost All-American sophomore guard Abyee Maracigan to a torn ACL.

Morrison and Lucas were named to the All-Tournament team. Morrison averaged a double-double, 18.75 points per game and 12.25 rebounds a game and Lucas averaged 7.25 and 3.25 during the tourney.

Online Extra: Men’s basketball takes 7th place at Nationals

By James Kelley
Photos by Daniel Gaona

The Cinderella season for the Pima Community College men’s basketball team ended Saturday with a win in the seventh-place game at Nationals, their third win in a row.

The unseeded Aztecs (20-16) beat No. 4 seed St. Clair County (Mich.) Community College 59-52 in the seventh-place game of the 16-team National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship Tournament.

Pima was picked to finish 12th out of 12 teams in the preseason Arizona Community College Athletic Conference poll. Last year the Aztecs finished 10-20, and the last time PCC finished above .500 was 2001-02.

Sophomore guard Warren Baker again stepped up for the Aztecs with 15 points, leading Pima in scoring for the third game in a row.

Freshman forward Daniel Conorque had another good game, getting a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Sophomore guard Jeremy Harden also had a double-double, with 10 points and 10 boards.

It was a story of what might have been for the Aztecs.

They opened the tournament with a 76-69 loss to eventual champion and No. 3 seed Lincoln (Ill.) College, which was playing in its home state. During that game, sophomore forward Travares Peterson was lost for the tournament with a head injury sustained on a dunk attempt.

Peterson was the Regional tournament MVP and was recently named National Player of the Week. The first-round loss meant seventh was the best the Aztecs could achieve.

Travares Peterson

Online Extra: Men’s basketball advances to 7th place game

Story by James Kelley
Photo by Daniel Gaona

The Pima Community College men’s basketball won its second Consolation Bracket game in a row at the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship Tournament.

The Aztecs (19-16) beat fellow unseeded team Grand Rapids (Mich.) Community College, 74-66 on Friday to secure a spot in the seventh place game.

Sophomore guard Warren Baker led Pima in scoring for the second straight game, adding 19 points. Freshman forwad Daniel Conorque scored 16 points on 8-14 shooting.

Sophomore guard JaMier Morris got a double-double the hard way, with 14 points and 13 assists.

Pima will play fourth seeded St. Clair County (Mich.) Community College for seventh on Saturday at 10 a.m. Arizona time.

The bracket can be found here and the games be viewed online here.

Online Extra: Women’s basketball advances to 5th place game

Story by James Kelley
Photo by Daniel Gaona

The Pima Community College women’s basketball team rebounded on Friday as it won its first Consolation Bracket game at National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship Tournament.

The fifth seeded Aztecs (27-8) beat eighth seeded Illinois Valley Community College 77-76 to secure a spot in the fifth place game.

Sophomore center Tia Morrison returned to form with a monstrous game, scoring 31 points, grabbing 19 rebounds, blocking three shots and making three steals.

Sophomore forward Deana Bledsoe scored 13 points and had eight boards. Freshman guard Patricia Ramos scored 12 points.

The Aztecs will face sixth seeded Parkland (Ill.) College (28-8) for fifth place on Saturday at noon Arizona time.

The bracket can be found here and the games be viewed online here.

Online Extra: Women’s basketball falls without stars

Story by James Kelley
Photo by Daniel Gaona

The loss of Abyee Maracigan and the foul trouble of Tia Morrison was too much to overcome for the Pima Community College women’s basketball team as its national title hopes ended Thursday.

The fifth-seeded Aztecs (26-8) lost to fourth-seeded Schoolcraft (Mich.) College 65-56 in the quarterfinals of the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship Tournament.

Maracigan, a sophomore guard, tore her ACL at the beginning of Pima’s first game and Morrison, a sophomore center, scored just seven points to go with 10 rebounds as she was saddled with foul trouble.

The Aztecs fared well without their All-Americans, leading for much of the game, but Schoolcraft pulled away in the last couple of minutes.

Freshman guard Patricia Ramos and sophomore guard NeNe Villalobos led the Aztecs in scoring with nine points each.

The loss drops Pima into the consolation bracket. Their next game will be against Illinois Valley Community College (28-6) on Friday at 10 a.m. Arizona time for a spot in the fifth place game.

The bracket can be found here and the games be viewed online here.

Online Extra: Men’s basketball rolls without Peterson

Story by James Kelley
Photo by Chris Beck

Playing without its biggest star, the Pima Community College men’s basketball team won a National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship Tournament Consolation Bracket game in dominant fashion.

The Aztecs (18-16) beat Mercer County (N.J.) College, 79-58, on Thursday, without sophomore forward Travares Peterson. He left their first game with a head injury and is out for the rest of the tourney.

In the consolation game, sophomore guard Warren Baker scored a game-high 20 points, shooting 8-12 from the field and 3-6 from beyond the arc.

Freshman forward Daniel Conorque scored 15 points, while freshman forward Ervin Felder scored 10 and had six rebounds.

The Aztecs will play Grand Rapids (Mich.) Community College at 11 a.m. Arizona time on Friday.

The bracket can be found here and the games be viewed online here.

Online Extra: Women’s basketball earns first round blowout

Story and photo by James Kelley

The Pima Community College women’s basketball team opened the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship Tournament in style with a blowout victory.

The No. 5 seed Aztecs (26-7) beat unseeded Bismarck State College (N.D.) 82-56 on March 17. Pima jumped out to a 14-0 lead and held the Mystics without a field goal until 12:23 left in the first half.

Sophomore Tia Morrison chipped in her customary double-double, scoring 19, grabbing 15 rebounds and blocking four shots. Sophomore guard Jessica Jones led the way for the Aztec offense, scoring 20 points and draining 4 for 8 from three-point land.

On March 18 at 2 pm Arizona time, Pima will face No. 4 seed Schoolcraft (Mich.) College (31-1), which had a bye into the quarterfinals.

The bracket can be found here and the games be viewed online here.

Online Extra: Men’s basketball loses first round game

Story by James Kelley
Photo by Daniel Gaona

The Pima Community College men’s basketball team lost its opening round game of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Tournament, 76-69, to Lincoln (Ill.) College.

With the close loss, Pima moves into the consolation bracket and will play March 18 at 9 a.m. Tucson time. The
Aztecs will play Mercer County College (N.J.).

Sophomore guard JaMier Morris led Pima with 22 points on 7-9 shooting. He sank a total of six three-pointers.

Sophomore guard Jeremy Harden added 12 points and came close to a double-double with nine rebounds. Sophomore forward Travares Peterson and freshman forward Daniel Conorque scored 11 points each.

The bracket can be found here and the games be viewed online here

Basketball teams combine for a double-double

By James Kelley
Photo by Daniel Gaona

Going to Nationals in the same year isn’t the only thing the Pima Community College basketball teams have in common.

Both won the Region title in their coach’s second year.

Last year, the women went to Nationals in head coach Todd Holthaus’ sophomore campaign. This season, men’s head coach Karl Pieroway also locked up a trip in his second year. The season before Holthaus was hired, the women were 5-22. The year before Pieroway started, Pima men were 7-23.

“It’s the first time that men and women have ever made it to Nationals,” said Pima’s Director of Athletics Edgar Soto. “It’s a big deal, especially with our basketball teams. We have come a long way from three or four years ago, where we were getting beat up a lot. Now we’re the team to be dealt with. We’re really happy about that.”

The teams usually cheer for each other at their games.

“The girls were actually telling us at the start of the season, if we make it to Nationals, then they are going to take us to lunch, so now I am thinking where they are going to take us,” sophomore forward Travares Peterson said, laughing. “But it’s huge,” Peterson added. “I’m a big supporter of the girls, the girls are big supporters of us. It’s going to be nice to have two teams flying out on the same plane representing Tucson and the whole Southwest.”

Region 1/District 1 Champions

Last year, Pima finished No. 25 in the national rankings of athletic departments. Only the Cross Country teams and Track and Field have had both men’s and women’s team go to Nationals in the same year.

“It’s very, very uncommon… I’d have to ask some people but for both the men and the women to make it to Nationals, I think that’s very uncommon, so we’re pretty fortunate,” Soto said.

With both teams going to Nationals in the same year, Pima can stake its claim as a basketball school.

“We are just trying to provide the way for everybody else to come here and just know this name is not unknown no more, everybody knows Pima now,” sophomore guard Warren Baker said.