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By Pricilia Mugwa
Pima Basketball Dominates Region I, Division II Championships
TUCSON, AZ – The Pima basketball teams continued their dominance in Region I, Division II, with both the women’s and men’s squads securing championship victories and punching their tickets to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament.
Women’s Basketball
Aztecs Women’s Basketball Captures Second Title in Three Years the No. 2 Seeded Pima women’s basketball team (26-5) took down top-seeded Mesa (24-8) with a 71-66 victory on Saturday, claiming their second Region I, Division II championship in three years. The win was also a rare road triumph, marking only the second time in 17 matchups that a visiting team emerged victorious in a region final between Pima and Mesa.
Despite trailing 50-49 heading into the fourth quarter, the Aztecs surged ahead with a 7-0 run to reclaim the lead at 56-50. Mesa responded, cutting the deficit to one point at 63-62 with just 1:28 left, but freshman Melicia Nelson (Window Rock HS) hit a crucial jumper to extend Pima’s lead. A turnover by Mesa in the final moments led to a three-point play by freshman Kennedi Niemann, sealing the Aztecs’ championship win.
(Photos courtesy: Pima Athletics/ by Raymond Suarez)
Freshman Kiley Sours-Miller was named the Region I, Division II Finals MVP after posting a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. She contributed seven offensive rebounds and two blocks. Sophomore Mattanaya Vital added 15 points, shooting 5-for-9 from the field and 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. Nelson chipped in 12 points, while sophomore Rori Hoffmeyer (Cibola HS) grabbed 13 rebounds to go along with seven points and four assists.
With the victory, the Aztecs now await their seeding for the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, which will take place from March 17-22 at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center in Joplin, MO. The selection show will be streamed on the NJCAA Network and NJCAA Basketball Twitter/X account on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. Tucson time.
Men’s Basketball
(Photo courtesy of wildcats Radio 1290/ by Pricilia Mugwa )
Aztecs Men’s Basketball Wins Second Straight Region Title, Sets New Program Record the No. 1 Seeded Pima men’s basketball team (32-0) continued its historic season with an 80-73 victory over No. 2 Chandler-Gilbert in the Region I, Division II Championship. The win not only secured the team’s second straight regional title but also set a new single season record for victories, surpassing the previous mark of 31-5 set during the 2017-18 campaign when Pima finished as the national runner-up.
The championship game was a battle, with Pima holding a slim 34-32 lead at halftime—their eighth single-digit halftime lead of the season. The Coyotes stormed out of the break with a 10-2 run, briefly taking a 42-36 lead. However, the Aztecs responded with a game-changing 22-3 run, fueled by back-to-back dunks from sophomore Wes Ball (Marana HS) and freshman Mason Hunt (Bradshaw Mountain HS). A three-pointer from sophomore Max Majerle (Arcadia HS) capped the run, giving Pima a commanding 64-48 advantage.
Chandler-Gilbert fought back, cutting the deficit to 69-62 with 3:51 remaining, but Majerle answered with another three-pointer to push the lead back to double digits. Sophomores Cohenj Gonzales and Kota Benson sealed the game by going 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final minutes.
Sophomore Gabe Oldham led the charge with a double-double, scoring 22 points on 10-for-11 shooting while grabbing 10 rebounds. Benson and Majerle each contributed 15 points, with Majerle knocking down four three-pointers. Gonzales added 13 points, 11 of which came in the second half, while Ball and Hunt combined for 12 points and 14 rebounds.
The Aztecs will now prepare for the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, scheduled for March 17-22 at the Mary Miller Center in Danville, IL.
The NJCAA selection show will be streamed on Tuesday, March 11, via the NJCAA Network and NJCAA Basketball Twitter/X account.
Both Pima squads have their eyes set on national titles as they continue their impressive seasons on the road to the NJCAA Tournament.
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